Cheryl Cole was battling a birthday hangover in Cardiff last night when she arrived for the latest round of X Factor auditions.

The Girls Aloud star and show judge arrived in the Welsh capital looking fragile and wrapped up in a hoodie rather than her usual stylish self – and Simon Cowell immediately spotted the singer was under the weather and decided to tease her for the rest of the day.

Cheryl’s actual birthday was on Wednesday when she hit 27, but she’s been celebrating all week.

Cowell, 50, spent the whole day baiting and winding Cheryl up as she fought off her headache and tiredness, not helped by some serious caterwauling from the X Factor wannabes.

Simon embarrassed her as he winked and told the audience: ‘Cheryl’s rather I’ll today. She might get a bit sulky and tired if you’re not nice to her. She’s got the disease going around called “hangover”. You need to be gentle – she doesn’t want too much noise”.

Cheryl hit back good-naturedly: “I may be a little hungover but I have a good excuse because my birthday was two days ago.”

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