Cole approached for American Idol (From Thurrock Gazette)

Cole approached for American Idol

9:42am Thursday 24th May 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Cheryl Cole could be returning as a TV judge - on American Idol, according to reports.

Show executives have approached the singer about appearing on the panel, according to the New York Post.

The newspaper said that if a deal is reached, Cheryl, who was sacked from the US X Factor, could join Jennifer Lopez on the panel, or replace her What To Expect When You're Expecting co-star if J-Lo decided to quit.

"It will be interesting to see how Jennifer deals with another beautiful woman sitting alongside her," a source said of J-Lo, who is rumoured to want to pursue other projects.

Cheryl has been focusing on her career as a pop star since she leaving Simon Cowell's US X Factor, a rival to American Idol, and replaced by Nicole Scherzinger.

She was criticised for lacking stage presence and for her accent, but sources told the New York Post that Idol executives don't see that as a problem.