If Cheryl thought she was going to get an easy ride on her return to The X Factor, she was much mistaken.
The former Girls Aloud Star, 34, has made her long-awaited return to the ITV show as Simon’s guest at the judges’ houses stage – due to be shown later this month.
And a teaser clip shown on Lorraine yesterday revealed that, far from being kind and considerate with the new mummy, Simon ribbed her remorselessly – just like the old days.
The chief target of the Syco chief’s jibes? None other than Cheryl’s young son, Bear…
Cheryl left her job as a judge on the singing show two years ago to have her baby with One Direction singer Liam Payne, 24.
And it’s obvious that Simon, 58, missed his old sparring partner. In the clip, the two are seen sitting next to each other at the music mogul’s luxury villa in the South of France. And it doesn’t take long for the goading to begin.
“Do want to go to school being called Bear?” laughs Simon as Cheryl looks stunned.
She replies: “Why would you want to be called Arthur or Simon – one of those common names?”
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According to a source, Simon is reported to be thrilled that Cheryl is back on the team.
“Simon is ecstatic at getting Cheryl back working with him again,” they told the Mail On Sunday.
“They’ve had their ups and downs to say the least, but he hugely respects her opinion.
“He has been working on it for a while. He and Cheryl have been talking a lot over the last months. Recent reports that she wouldn’t be returning ever are obviously way off the mark.
“For Cheryl, this felt like the right way for her to make a return to the limelight after having Bear. She has the tough task of picking Simon’s final acts so the pressure is on and he is very much looking forward to the banter.”
Louis Walsh is believed to be taking the groups to Istanbul in Turkey with singer Mika, while Nicole and her boys are said to be jetting to South Africa with rapper Stormzy.
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As for Sharon, it’s reckoned that she and the overs will be joining Sharon’s kids Kelly and Jack in San Francisco.
The X Factor continues on ITV1 tonight.