Cole to take on Cowell in battle of talent shows

CHERYL Cole is set to make her return to prime-time television in a role that will see her go head-to-head with her former employer Simon Cowell.

She is understood to be the top choice to head the judging panel for BBC1's new talent show, The Voice.

The X Factor-styled show differs from previous talent shows in that would-be singing stars are judged just on their voices in blind auditions.

The Voice, which is attracting around 12 million viewers in the United States, will be broadcast on BBC1 on Saturday nights and will be seen as the corporation's rival to ITV1's The X Factor.

BBC1 controller Danny Cohen said: "I'm absolutely delighted that The Voice will be coming to the BBC. It's a big, exciting and warm-hearted series and will be a fantastic Saturday night event on BBC1."

Other stars lined up to join the singer on the judging panel include Tom Jones and Florence Welch.

Cole has been in the headlines after she was controversially dropped by Cowell as a judge from the American version of The X Factor after she was judged not to fit in with the show.

The former Girls Aloud singer later rejected the chance to return to the UK version of the show.