[Billy]

CHERYL Cole will replace Sharon Osbourne on the X Factor, The Sun can reveal.

The Girls Aloud beauty will take over from the fiery telly favourite just days after she quit.

Cheryl, 24, will make her first appearance as she joins Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue on Thursday at the London auditions at the Emirates Stadium.

The tiny brunette - who has suffered months of heartache after her husband, Ashley Cole cheated on her - has even got the blessing of Sharon.

Sharon, 55, quit last week after a massive pay row with ITV chiefs - demanding a £500,000 top up to her £1.5 million salary.

She had also been outspoken about her ongoing feud with co-star Dannii.

But yesterday, Sharon said: “I want Cheryl to replace me, I love her.”

ITV bosses are expected to make an announcement confirming Cheryl has got the gig later today.

Cheryl will be a mentor to one of the four categories, boys, 14-24, girls, 14-24, 25 and over and groups.

She will be filming up until Christmas, so quite what this means for the long-debated future of Girls Aloud is anyone’s guess...

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