Nicole Scherzinger Joins U.K.'s 'The X Factor'
by Sean Comer
So a door closed on Nicole Scherzinger. A window opened, she jumped out, and she eventually landed right inside the same door again.
No, it's not another fan-made "Portal" movie.
Perez Hilton reports that the one-time Pussycat Dolls singer is right back in the "X Factor" swing, tweeting today that she's returning to judging on the original U.K. brand of "The X Factor," not six months after she was ousted from Simon Cowell's U.S. localization.
Scherzinger, fellow judge Paula Abdul and host Steve Jones were all announced this past January as being gone from Cowell's FOX hit. Cowell has since replaced she and Abdul for the show's upcoming second season with Britney Spears and Demi Lovato.
Super excited to be back in London for @TheXFactor! Can't wait to find more unique and interesting talent!
— Nicole Scherzinger (@NicoleScherzy) May 29, 2012
By all indications, this go-'round for Scherzinger looks to be a guest gig, not something permanent. As a judge on the premiere 2011 season of FOX's "The X Factor," Scherzinger developed a reputation as a soft touch who shied away from voluntarily eliminating contestants. The original plan was to have Scherzinger co-host alongside Jones, but she was shifted into a judging role when FOX terminated original judge Cheryl Cole's contract.
Scherzinger was a previous U.K. guest judge in 2010.