The love-in between Will.i.am and Cheryl Cole has reached new heights — or, depending on your point of view, depths — with the Black Eyed Peas mainman claiming that the Geordie singer and talent show judge would have duetted with Michael Jackson if he hadn’t died.

The Sun reports that Will.i.am did his best to convince the late ‘King Of Pop’ of Cheryl Cole’s talents. He said: “I told him Cheryl was the hottest thing in the UK and could sing and dance — basically, she was the complete package. He would have worked with her, no doubt, and it would have been something special.”

He continued: “They are both total perfectionists when it comes to their work so it would have been something really big. It’s just a shame it can never happen now.”

Quite so. Yet despite this major setback, Will.i.am reckons that plenty of other big names are just itching to get into the studio with the pop princess.

“There are still lots of great artists waiting to work with Cheryl when she gets over to the US — the Peas, Justin Bieber and Usher,” he said.

Source

Cheryl Cole will “never” leave Britain to live in the US, according to her close friend Will.i.am.

The Black Eyed Peas star admits Cheryl still hasn’t fully recovered after her battle with malaria, despite bravely returning to work.

Will.i.am, 35, is helping the 27-yearold put her X Factor contestants through their paces at the judges’ house stage of the competition.

Cheryl has regularly spent time in the States and is considering spending more time there as her career goes from strength to strength.

But close friend Will.i.am insists she is a home girl who will never turn her back on the UK.

He added: “Despite the levels of success and fame she has reached, she is a real home girl, and from the conversations I have had Jwith her I never see her leaving the UK full-time.

“Yes she will be in LA more when the US X Factor starts and she might even buy a base there, but I don’t see anybody or anything that will make her decide the US is home.”

Cheryl is said to have signed a £1.5million deal to co-host the US version of the hit show next year.

Cheryl Cole is back at work and recording new material – despite warnings from her X Factor boss Simon Cowell that she should still be taking it easy after her life-threatening bout of malaria.

She was seen leaving the studio, dressed in tracksuit bottoms and a hooded top, before returning to her nearby hotel, shortly followed by Hough.

The 27-year-old star flew out to Los Angeles to recuperate from the illness at the end of July with her close friend, dancer Derek Hough.

She’s been staying at the Sunset Marquis hotel there but she’s been regular touch with Cowell as she gets her strength back in time to return to the X Factor.

However, she’s not due back on the show until October – and it seems the Girls Aloud star can’t wait until then to get back to work.

Despite doctors also ordering the Fight For This Love singer to reduce her hectic schedule – they believe she found it harder to get better from the infection as her immune system was so weak with overwork – she’s busy recording the follow-up to her debut album 3 Words.

Music mogul Cowell is said to be ‘disappointed’ to hear that she’s not only been singing again, but has also been meeting TV executives.

A source told this week’s Closer magazine: ‘Simon spoke to Cheryl before she went out to LA and she specifically told him she was going out to rest, recuperate, gain some weight and hang out in the sun away from the glare of photographers.’

‘The last thing he expected was for her to go over to America and start working. Simon hasn’t berated her down the phone or anything, but he’s let it be known he’s not very happy. He just wants her to concentrate on getting 100 per cent better.’

But the Geordie lass is defying the advice to keep taking things steadily and is said to be laying down at least two tracks before she returns home.

Source

Brave Cheryl Tweedy is due to return to work this week after a remarkable recovery from malaria.

The 26-year-old X Factor judge, who contracted the potentially fatal disease last month, has been in talks with TV chiefs about going back to work for the first time next Friday with an interview for ITV2 spin-off show The Xtra Factor.

The interview with Xtra Factor host Konnie Huq is likely to take place in the grounds of the Surrey home that the Girls Aloud singer once shared with Chelsea and England footballer Ashley Cole.

The singer has also been in touch with boss Simon Cowell about returning to the panel in time for the Judges’ Houses stage of the competition next month.

She has been joking with the 50-year-old X Factor boss by text – warning him not to keep the best acts for himself while she is sick and fellow judge Dannii Minogue is on maternity leave.

A source close to the singer, who is currently divorcing Cole, said: “Cheryl is a fighter and this has been the fight of her life. She’s put all her energy into getting better and it looks like it’s paid off. The fact she’s cracking jokes again is a wonderful sign that the feisty old Cheryl is returning.

“Simon has told her he can’t wait to have her back on board.”

(more…)