Last year saw Cheryl Cole at the centre of one showbiz’s biggest stories. Indeed, after ample hype, the singer signed up to judge on the season premiere of The X Factor USA only to be unceremoniously dumped one episode in.

Since then, the Girls Aloud star has focussed on strengthening her brand on home-soil – with varying results. For, while comeback single ‘Call My Name’ serves as one the biggest UK singles of the year, its housing album ‘A Million Lights’ and follow-up singes have underperformed.

In a bid to reverse her so-so fortunes, the 29 year old has headed back to the platform that catapulted her to solo stardom – The X Factor UK.

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Multiple sources confirm that Cole will serve as mentor at the Judges Houses segment of this series – which is taping as we type. She’ll assist head judge Gary Barlow in picking the contestants he’ll take through to the Live Shows.

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Any one who’s read TGJ in tandem with Cheryl’s solo rise will know we’re “not here” for her cause; a stance which hasn’t changed (see: entirely too much hype and  limited talent).

That said, with the show officially in irreversible decline thanks to Tesco Value Tulisa and cheap soap storylines, the irony of Cheryl’s “return” looks set to be one of the few genuine must-see moments this series.

We can only hope she draws inspiration from the inevitably more talented contestants. Maybe then she’ll develop enough talent for the public to buy into her sans the X Factor machine.

Randomness: UK’ers, did you know ITV were bidding ferociously for the airing rights of The Voice UK?

Indeed, before losing out to the BBC, the network hoped to line it up as an eventual replacement for The X Factor UK  in light of their airing agreement with the show’s producers ending next year.

With next year being the 10th series of the ‘X’, we hope it bows out while it has a shred of vitality left. Nothing worse than trying to ride a horse that died years ago.

Your thoughts?