Cheryl Tweedy turns down 'X Factor' offer

Cheryl Tweedy has stunned ITV chiefs by turning down an offer to appear on the next series of X Factor.

The Girls Aloud singer was approached to join the judging panel as a replacement for Louis Walsh, who has been axed as part of a major shake-up of the talent contest, but Tweedy thought that the job would be "too much pressure".

An ITV source told the News of the World: "Cheryl is totally bonkers. We don't know what planet she's on. Being the sexy female judge would have opened so many doors for her because Simon [Cowell] is the man with the Midas touch. There was even the possibility that she could do shows in the States using Simon's contacts."

DJ Chris Moyles, American Idol's Paula Abdul and former Spice Girl Mel B are amongst the names being rumoured to replace Walsh.