Cheryl Cole warned by hopeful's girlfriend

Rex Features

Cheryl Cole has been given a "hands off" warning by the girlfriend of X Factor hopeful Joseph Chukukere.

Viewers will see Cole describe the 22-year-old aspiring singer as "gorgeous" when he auditions for the talent show in tonight's episode. The Girls Aloud star has even admitted that she "flirted" with Joseph when she met him for the first time.

Chukukere's girlfriend Frankie Hayes, 18, has now made a public statement in a bid to prevent any further advances from Cheryl, who has suffered her own romance woes with cheating husband Ashley this year.

"I don't blame her for liking him, he's a good looking guy," Frankie told The Mirror. "But he's taken and spoken for. We are in love and have been going out for a year. Cheryl can keep her hands to herself."

Joseph's mother Barbara Anne added: "He takes after his dad. When he appears in a room he turns heads with the girls like he did with Cheryl. If we go out on a family celebration young ladies do check him out all the time. He is a good looking lad and he is very trim."

Chukukere's audition airs on The X Factor tonight at 6.50pm on ITV1.