CHERYL Cole has been replaced as a judge on the new US version of The X Factor, it was claimed today.

The 27-year-old singer's place on the show - which debuts in September - is likely to be taken by ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, according to reports.

Celebrity website TMZ reported that Cole was primarily dropped from the judging panel because producers feared the American audience would not understand her Geordie accent.

There were also concerns that the former Girls Aloud star had a lack of chemistry with fellow X Factor judge Paula Abdul, the website said.

But The Sun reported that Cole was quitting the programme because she was missing friends and family in Britain.

A source on the show told the paper: "It hasn't worked out. She's homesick and wants to return to the UK. She's had enough. Whether she ends up back on UK X Factor is open to speculation."

Representatives of Cole and the US X Factor's production team were not immediately available for comment.