Arron Saunders Blog: Cheryl Cole texts Louis Walsh at X Factor auditions: Tell them you're looking for the new me!

Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole still keep in touch

Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole bonded during their time as judges on UK X Factor

Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole have been in constant contact via text since she was axed from US X Factor last month.

Music manager Louis, who's on the panel for the UK show with Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos, got in touch with Cheryl on the first day of auditions.

'I texted her, saying: "They're going to ask me what am I looking for in the contestants this year",' says Louis, 58.

'She replied: "Tell them you're looking for a new Cheryl Cole".�

'We had a good laugh about that.'

Cheryl, 27, was offered a spot on The X Factor UK panel after she was dropped in America, but Simon Cowell revealed she'd turned it down.

Louis believes the Geordie pop star is gutted that her LA dream fell apart.

'She's not as tough as people think,' he tells the Daily Mail. 'She's tough on the outside, but sensitive on the inside.

'She didn't take up the offer to come back to the UK panel because she probably didn't want to go backwards.'

Louis Walsh, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Gary Barlow on The X Factor | Pictures | Photos | TV News | Celebrity News

Esme Riley

Arron Saunders Blog