Simon Cowell: 'Cheryl Cole is one of the best'

Simon Cowell has revealed Cheryl Cole is 'one of the best' he has ever worked with - despite having to 'twist her arm' to take on judging duties on The X Factor.

The music mogul admitted it took years of persuading and cajoling before the Girls Aloud star joined the show, as a judge alongside him, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh.

"She blew me out on Britain's Got Talent after saying yes, and then eventually I persuaded her to do The X Factor - I had to really twist Cheryl's arm because she didn't know how good she was going to be... She's one of the best I've ever worked with," he told New!

Simon went onto praise Cheryl for her down-to-earth nature.

"I knew she was going to be good because she speaks like normal people speak - people can relate to that," he continued.

"I think that is the best sign of a judge. Not someone who is sitting there like a vocal coach, but instead saying, 'This is why I like you, this is why I don't like you'. And it's a very rare talent."