Reports from the United States claim that Cheryl Cole has been dropped as a judge on the US version of The X Factor.
Celebrity website TMZ and US Weekly quoted unnamed sources as saying Cole (27), a member of British pop band Girls Aloud, was being replaced in the new Fox Television venture created by Simon Cowell.
Although Fox and Cole’s UK publicist have yet to comment on the story, TMZ said sources claimed producers were concerned the singer’s Newcastle accent was too strong for US audiences.
However, the website also reports that Cole was homesick and that there was “a lack of chemistry” with fellow judge Paula Abdul.
Cheryl Cole's official switch from the UK version of The X Factor to the US version earlier this month has been the subject of tabloid speculation.
Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who is lined up to co-host the US version of the show with Steve Jones, is favourite to replace Cole reports say.