We know it's unthinkable to even try and imagine a Cheryl Cole-free 'X Factor' or recall the time when the star wasn't a judge on the hit ITV1 show, but she's just revealed that she originally turned down Simon Cowell's first offer.
In fact, the 27-year-old 'Promise This' singer even told the music mogul; "not for all the tea in China." Cheryl, who has become the nation's sweetheart following her successful stint on the programme, told The Sun: "When Simon first asked me to do The X Factor, I said, 'Never for all the tea in China will I do The X Factor'. That's exactly the words I said to him, and he went, 'You will, and I'll see you in a year's time'. And I really didn't want to do it."
The Girls Aloud star, who's been a judge alongside Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cowell for three years, added: "I didn't want to be the person that stops people and says, 'No, you can't'.
"But then I realised the people I do put through, I can really help them."
Since joining the show in 2008, the winners, Alexandra Burke and Joe McElderry, have both been mentored by Chezza.
And this year, she is the only judge who still has all four of her acts - Katie Waissel, Rebecca Ferguson, Treyc Cohen and Cher Lloyd.
Meanwhile, Cheryl's wayward ex-husband footballer Ashley Cole is reportedly pursuing '90210' actress Jessica Lowndes, who bares more than a passing resemblance to the star.
The canadian actress has made a string of appearances on UK TV over the past week and caught the roving sport star's eye, with a source telling The Sun: "Ashley saw her on TV and liked what he saw. He has connections in the industry and wanted to get in touch. You can see why he likes her - she looks like Cheryl."
Since the couple's separation and subsequent divorce, the 29-year-old Chelsea player has been linked to ex-lapdancer Sarah Purnell.
Of course Cheryl has been romantically linked to US dancer and close friend Derek Hough, but neither have confirmed a relationship.
