The music mogul offered Cheryl a role on the ITV show in 2007 but the Girls Aloud singer turned down his offer a week before filming began, according to The Mirror.
Speaking in a new interview ahead of the Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) returning this weekend (February 22) for its 18th series, Cowell said: “We’d offered [Amanda Holden’s] role to Cheryl Cole, as she was known in those days.
“A week before filming, she calls me and goes, ‘I just can’t do it’, and wouldn’t give me a reason. I think she was freaked out. We literally had two judges and a week to book someone.
Britain’s Got Talent is back – bigger and better than EVER!
Expect the unexpected when #BGT returns on Saturday 22nd February at 7pm on @ITV 1, @ITVX and @WeAreSTV. pic.twitter.com/l7NgyjytR6
— BGT (@BGT) February 12, 2025
“I just knew it had to be Amanda because I’d met her and I really liked her, she was very funny, and I just thought she’d fit the show perfectly.”
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Simon sits as head judge on the talent show alongside Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli. In this series, social media star and musician KSI will also be joining the panel as a guest judge.
Although Cheryl never took part in BGT, she became a judge on The X Factor UK in 2008, where she went on to mentor and win the show with Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry in their series.
However, Cheryl did appear on BGT in 2014 to perform her single ‘Crazy Stupid Love’ alongside Tinie Tempah.
In the new interview, Cowell went on to praise Amanda Holden calling her the “Britain’s Got Talent queen”.
“She deserves that crown,” he said.
“Fast forward 18 years and she’s still a huge success and we have become great friends. I do consider her one of my best friends.”
Britain’s Got Talent 2025 returns on ITV, STV and ITVX on Saturday, February 22 at 7pm.
