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Cheryl Cole has been dropped as a judge on the US version of X Factor, according to reports.

The website TMZ.com says producers were worried that American viewers wouldn't understand her Geordie accent.

After much speculation, the show's creator, Simon Cowell, announced the final judging panel only three weeks ago.

Cole's UK publicist has refused to comment on the story.

According to reports, Cole will be replaced by former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who was lined up to host the show alongside Welsh TV presenter Steve Jones.

The judging panel will be made up of Simon Cowell, with former American Idol co-star Paula Abdul, and Antonio L.A. Reid.

Cole gave up her role as a judge on the UK's X Factor in order to take on the job in America.

'Big commitment'

The first auditions in front of the show's judges kicked off in LA on 8 May and have already taken place in a few other cities, including New York.

When Cole's US role was first announced she said she wasn't worried about Americans understanding her accent and she thought US audiences would "get used to it".

She added: "Americans can always understand me."

At the time she said that the new job was a "big commitment" as she'd stepped outside of her comfort zone.

"Everything's really new for me and quite scary, so it took me a long time to get my head around being asked. I had two minutes to just go and do it," she added.

The American show will be the highlight of Fox's autumn schedule and offers an unprecedented $5m (£3m) to the winner.

X Factor was developed by Cowell with ITV and Talkback Thames in 2004 and now broadcasts in countries around the world.

Former judge Dannii Minogue recently confirmed she was stepping down from the UK show because of a clash with her commitments as a judge on Australia's Got Talent.