Cheryl Cole Confirms 'X Factor' Return With Instagram Photo Of Her 'Choking' Simon Cowell (PIC)

CONFIRMED: Cheryl WILL Return To 'The X Factor'
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Try to remain calm people but Cheryl Cole has ended months of speculation by confirming she WILL be returning to this year's 'X Factor'.

Cheryl took to her official Instagram account to post a snap of her with her hands around Simon Cowell's neck, which she captioned: "GUESS WHAT!!.. I'm baaaacccckkkkk!!!! #iMayActuallyRingHisNeck #XFactor2014 #leggooo."

The music mogul also confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: "It's official. Cheryl is back." He later tweeted: "Most importantly she is a brilliant judge of talent."

The former Girls Aloud singer was persuaded to return to her judging role after being offered a reported £1.5 million.

And it looks like she's (kinda) made up with Simon too after she left the UK series for the US version in 2011 only to be unceremoniously dumped after just a few days filming over worries no one would understand her Geordie accent.

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Cheryl will be joined on this year's 'X Factor' panel by Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh

Speaking of her return Cheryl said: “I’m very happy and excited to be returning to The X Factor. I’m inspired and ready to find new talent and potential pop stars. It’s going to be a fun series.”

Meanwhile Simon, who confirmed his return to the UK show last month, said: "I am so happy that Cheryl has agreed to join The X Factor again.

"The last time we worked together in the UK was incredible and produced some really successful artists. Obviously the plan is to do the same again… so it's back to work!"

Cheryl and Simon will be joined by Louis Walsh on this year's 'X Factor' but the fourth and final judge has yet to be decided upon after Rita Ora turned down the job last week.

Welcome back Chezza - we've missed you!

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini: Our 30 Favourite Moments
2. That outfit she wore for her first ill-fated day on 'The X Factor USA'(01 of18)
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Just... no. (credit:Getty Images)
3. That naff lottery photocall with her naff ex hubby(02 of18)
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The outfit! The dry ice! The husband! The sheer desperation! (credit:Getty Images)
5. The court case(03 of18)
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Back in 2003, Cheryl Tweedy (as she was then known) was charged with racially aggravated assault after being arrested at Guildford (Guildford!) club The Drink whne she allegedly hitting a toilet attendant. Cue a teary court appearance in Kingston (Kingston!) and a cream jacket from Dotty Ps. (credit:Getty Images)
6. The slashed trousers(04 of18)
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Oooh she'll catch her death etc, etc. (credit:Getty Images)
8. When she was bezzies with Posh(05 of18)
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Ok, so it only lasted a few weeks, but when Posh took Cheryl under her protective WAG wings at the 2006 World Cup (and simultaneously ignored the rest of the WAGS) it was all a bit 'Mean Girls' and we were in celeb bezzie heaven. (credit:Getty Images)
10. The chav years(06 of18)
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The white cap! The hoop earrings! The cropped top! Tulisa was watching (and waiting) in the wings. (credit:Getty Images)
11. The side boob(07 of18)
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Well, you truly haven't made it until you've flashed a bit of side boobage. (credit:Getty Images)
13. The gurn(08 of18)
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Because when Cheryl pulls an ugly, we feel a tiny bit better about ourselves (credit:WENN)
15. Her flirty tweets to Tom Daley(09 of18)
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"Congratulations @TomDaley1994.. You did us all proud.. !! Now you should have some free time to teach me that dive!!" Get a room! (credit:PA)
17. Her look for the 2011 Pride of Britain Awards(10 of18)
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From the honeyed tones of her hair and tanned, slender limbs to that dress... has Cheryl ever looked more drop dead gorgeous? (credit:Getty Images)
19. The head scarf years(11 of18)
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How to make a head scarf look even worse? Go for the poo brown option. In cheap fabric. (credit:Getty Images)
21. The thigh tattoo(12 of18)
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Put it away love. (credit:Getty Images)
24. When she colour co-ordinated her hair to her outfit(13 of18)
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Nice yellow highlight, Chezza. (credit:Getty Images)
26. Her 2013 Cannes appearance(14 of18)
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Looking every inch the Hollywood starlet. Meanwhile, the world asks, 'why?' (credit:Getty Images)
27. The naughty school girl look(15 of18)
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She wasted saved this one for Girls Aloud's gay audience at the Big Gay Out in 2005. (credit:Getty Images)
28. The tramp stamp on her back(16 of18)
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What. Were. You. Thinking? (credit:WENN)
29. Her mum(17 of18)
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Ok, so her mum can't really be classed as a 'moment' but Joan has been there through thick and thin, and for that we salute her. And errr, hello? She did play quite a major role in creating Chezza in the first place, you know. (credit:WENN)
30. And finally... the sex crab(18 of18)
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One part amazing, two parts ridiculous. (credit:YouTube)
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini's 100 Sexiest Pictures
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