Morgan: 'Cole rejected my flirting'

Piers Morgan has said that Cheryl Cole rejected his advances at Simon Cowell's recent party.

The pair were both present at the 50th birthday celebration, which was also attended by Katie Price, Kate Moss, David Hasselhoff, Louis Walsh and others.

Morgan told The Mail on Sunday: "With the kind of miraculous good timing that’s kept my career from hitting the skids even more often than it has, I got there at exactly the same time as Cheryl Cole. And, even more pleasingly, she was on her own.

"'Where's that useless, treacherous husband of yours?' I asked. (Cheryl expects this kind of abuse from me towards young Ashley. I'm an Arsenal fan and he broke our hearts. 'I understand your pain', she once said to me)."

He added: "'Back home,' she laughed. 'He's got a game tomorrow'. 'Excellent,' I replied, a little too excitedly. 'It's a bit daunting all this, isn't it?' she whispered, as we walked down a giant spiral staircase together into the pre-dinner drinks reception.

"'I'll take care of you,' I replied, trying (unsuccessfully) to wrench her arm into mine. 'I'll manage, thanks,' she said, firmly rejecting my chivalrous gesture."