Cheryl and Simon Cowell’s secret talks revealed

She’s turning to the big boss to save her career

Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell

by heatworld |
Updated on

Time was when Cheryl was invincible – every song she sang became a hit, every outfit she wore sold out in seconds, and her weekly judging stint on The X Factor charmed the nation.

But it’s been over a decade since those glory days, and these days she lives a pretty quiet life with her three-year-old son Bear, while any recent attempts to revive her career haven't worked out as she'd hoped. Her most recent single failed to even break the UK top 50, while The Greatest Dancer, which promised to be her big telly comeback, was cancelled earlier this year.

Cheryl Cole's secret talks with Simon Cowell
©Getty

So, what’s a girl to do…throw in the towel?

Not our Cheryl. Instead, she’s reaching out to the man who launched her career into the stratosphere in the first place, the one and only Simon Cowell. And luckily for her, the showbiz supremo – who was seen out for the first time last week after breaking his back in August after falling off his electric bike – happens to have some extra time on his hands as he continues to recover.

Check out: Cheryl's transformation timeline

Gallery

Cheryl Cole before and after: Girls Aloud singer's worst outfits ever

3rd January 20021 of 40

3rd January 2002

Pre the days of hair straighteners, make-up, eyebrow shaping and teeth whitening

9th January 20022 of 40

9th January 2002

We can only imagine she was paid a lot of money to wear this leather beanie

9th February 20023 of 40

9th February 2002

Warning: Highly flammable

10th February 20024 of 40

10th February 2002

Back in the Popstars: The Rivals days it was apparently a crime not to wear burgundy

3rd March 20025 of 40

3rd March 2002

Toilet roll = an excellent trim for a boring pink shirt

17th October 20026 of 40

17th October 2002

That sheepskin rug came in handy in the end then

11th November 20027 of 40

11th November 2002

Jewelled denim is only acceptable on members of B*Witched

16th November 20028 of 40

16th November 2002

Did that corset just not fit correctly? Is that why it's wrapped over again?

29th January 20039 of 40

29th January 2003

Combat trousers, a fur gilet and heels should only ever be reserved for the lives of Gwen Stefani

14th May 200310 of 40

14th May 2003

Ouch and OUCH

21st June 200311 of 40

21st June 2003

Going to a rave with those glowstick bangles, Chezza?

20th September 200312 of 40

20th September 2003

After using 10 cans of Elnett, Cheryl opted for this look at the Disney Kids Awards in 2003. Not setting a good fashion example to children, now are we?

8th December 200313 of 40

8th December 2003

Chery's actually done very well fashioning an outfit out of day-release chic. Check the chain and belt

7th April 200414 of 40

7th April 2004

Cheryl stopped off at Walford market for some last minute accessories

14th December 200415 of 40

14th December 2004

Flares and hoodies were our favourite items when we were 14 too

24th January 200516 of 40

24th January 2005

Looking very happy despite losing all the buttons on her shirt

13th March 200517 of 40

13th March 2005

No, Cheryl was not on an exotic holiday. She was just at the Embassy Club in London

23rd March 200518 of 40

23rd March 2005

Words fail us

30th June 200519 of 40

30th June 2005

Since when did 2005 even produce those geriatric heels?

23rd July 200520 of 40

23rd July 2005

That's it, hitch up that skirt until it disaappears please

18th August 200521 of 40

18th August 2005

That poor cardigan has been stretched to oblivion

3rd December 200522 of 40

3rd December 2005

What lovely velvet knickers you have. We're pretty sure they're meant to go under your tights

12th February 200623 of 40

12th February 2006

Is that a bra? Or part of the dress? Either way it's not looking good

3rd April 200624 of 40

3rd April 2006

All dolled up for a night in Vegas. Except she's actually at the London premiere for Alien Autopsy

21st May 200625 of 40

21st May 2006

We can't say we've ever seen a whole roll of Sellotape put to such use before, but each to their own

9th June 200626 of 40

9th June 2006

Deck shoes, a 90s style work shirt and a Mulberry = all a bit too try hard, Chezza

12 June 200627 of 40

12 June 2006

When Victoria Beckham invites you out to dins, it's probably best not to channel your inner teenage school hair 'do

25th June 200628 of 40

25th June 2006

What a classy look! Er, NOT

2nd July 200629 of 40

2nd July 2006

All white there, Cheryl?

11th July 200630 of 40

11th July 2006

You won't be floating on cloud nine in that bedsheet, love

7th September 200631 of 40

7th September 2006

We can't imagine a more unflattering colour/material existing

9th October 200632 of 40

9th October 2006

Now, Cheryl. It's not really acceptable to go around steeling children's hoodies is it?

30th October 200633 of 40

30th October 2006

Cheryl also wore this exact outfit to the Pride of Britain Awards in 2006 so it obviously wasn't a one-time style slip-up. Repeat offender!

25th November 200634 of 40

25th November 2006

Looking suspiciously like she's off to the prom for Kimberley Walsh's birthday party

9th December 200635 of 40

9th December 2006

We didn't realise Chez was once an extra on Little Britain

18th December 200636 of 40

18th December 2006

We're not sure this is what power dressing shoule mean, Cheryl

3rd June 200737 of 40

3rd June 2007

Thank goodness this was a Girls Aloud private party. At least the majority of the world wasn't subjected to this atrocity

16th September 200738 of 40

16th September 2007

An old pair of nude tights is NEVER gonig to make a nice top

21st November 200739 of 40

21st November 2007

The glare from that frock seems to have scared everyone off

10th December 200740 of 40

10th December 2007

Definitely too sequined for school at the St Trinian's film premiere in London

“Simon is incredibly loyal to Cheryl and has told her he won’t give up on her,” says an insider close to the 37-year-old singer, who saw her career skyrocket after Simon enlisted her as an X Factor judge in 2008. “She hates to be leaning on him while he’s still in some pain, but she’s really hoping he can help her. He’s encouraging her to come and visit him in LA and bring Bear along for the ride, so they can get down to plotting her future.”

Cheryl has always looked up to Simon as a friend and mentor, but their bond was seriously tested in 2011 when he hired and then swiftly fired her from the US . She’s since referred to him as her “frenemy” and, heat is told, has never quite forgiven him for publicly humiliating her. But according to our source, Simon is desperate to make things right, and reckons that now is the perfect time redeem himself.

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“Simon still feels bad about the US X Factor and he can see that Cheryl has been struggling for a while now,” we’re told. “He’s told her that she has a bright future ahead, but she needs to let go of the pop career and concentrate on television. It’s a tough pill for Cheryl to swallow but she’ll take it from Simon – if there’s one thing she knows about him, it’s that he tells the truth.”

Read more in the new issue of heat magazine - OUT NOW.

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