Cheryl Cole Gone From 'X Factor' -- FOREVER!!!

Cheryl Cole is officially gone from "X-Factor" -- this, after Fox and Fremantle tried to resuscitate her deal.

As TMZ reported, FOX and Fremantle had fired Cole as a judge on the show because she lacked chemistry with the other judges, but Fremantle and Fox had a change of heart after figuring out how much money they would eat by paying Cheryl her fee -- so they tried getting her back.

The overture didn't work, so Nicole Scherzinger -- who was originally picked as the host -- will now take Cheryl's place as a judge. Nicole's role was in limbo while Fox and Fremantle were trying to get Cheryl back as a judge.

The new host is Steve Jones, a former model and UK TV personality.

Sounds like a mess.

See also

• 'X-Factor' Judge REPLACED by Pussycat Doll
• 'X Factor' to Cheryl Cole: For Money, Not Love
• Cheryl Cole OUT As British 'X-Factor' Judge Too

'X Factor' to Cheryl Cole: For Money, Not Love

Sources at "X Factor" tell TMZ ... FOX and Fremantle (the producers of the show) are trying to get Cheryl Cole back on the program, a week after giving her her walking papers ... but it's more about the bottom line than about loving Cheryl.

Our sources say when producers told Cheryl she wasnt right for the U.S. version of "X Factor," they tried to put her on the UK version of the show. Cheryl's managers wanted £2.5 million and producers thought it was too much, so the deal went south.

We're told Cheryl was due to get paid around $1.5 million for the U.S. show -- about what Paula Abduland LA Reid are making -- but she has not decided whether to accept and come back.

The whole situation becomes even messier when you take into account Nicole Scherzinger -- who was originally hired as a host, but was moved to being a judge when Cheryl was axed. Her position on the show now seems to be up in the air.

Our sources say Cheryl's deal with the U.S version is "pay or play" -- meaning she gets paid whether she does the show or not. We're told execs at FOX -- and especially at Fremantle -- dont want to lose the money ... so it's better to have her on the show than not.

See also

• Simon Cowell -- Cool On Cheryl Cole 'X-Factor' Feud
• Cheryl Cole OUT As British 'X-Factor' Judge Too
• Paula Abdul -- I Was Traveling When Cheryl Got Let Go