Cole 'thrown' by 'X Factor' changes

Cheryl Cole has admitted that she felt nervous when The X Factor's revamp was announced earlier this year.

In May, it was confirmed that show producers had decided to transform the audition stages by inviting a live audience to watch budding contestants perform. The arrangement was later replicated for boot camp.

Speaking to the ITV website, Cole explained: "It's nice to be back, [but] just when I thought I knew what I was doing from last year, they pulled the carpet from under my feet - so I've kind of been thrown back into it!"

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell argued that the changes were necessary because he did not want the talent show to become dull as it entered its sixth year.

He revealed: "I don't think you should just keep doing the same thing year after year otherwise it becomes boring, and I think this process is a bigger challenge.

"When you come out and you've got to perform in front of 2,000 [to] 3,000 people and you've got to sing to a track, it's very different to what we've done before."

The X Factor's new series begins on August 22 on ITV1.