Cheryl Fernandez-Versini slams Strictly Come Dancing rumours as 'absolute nonsense'

Strictly bosses were keen to get Cheryl on board to lure fans from rival ITV show, The X Factor.

cheryl liam — Cheryl Fernandez-Versini won't be putting on her dancing shoes anytime soon Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has slammed reports that she is part of the new celebrity line up on Strictly Come Dancing. Rumours surfaced that the former X Factor judge is set to put on her dancing shoes for the rival BBC show with bookmakers at Ladbrokes slashing odds for her taking part from 5-1 to 5-6.

The former Girls Aloud singer was tipped to don her ballgown to join Louise Redknapp, Laura Whitmore, Charlotte Crosby, Will Young and Anastacia in the next series of the dance show.

The Daily Star claimed that Strictly TV executives were keen to lure Cheryl to the BBC, along with her fanbase. A source said: "Getting Cheryl would be amazing for Strictly. If they got Cheryl to take part all of her fans would stop watching X Factor and start tuning in to Strictly, giving them an even bigger lead when it comes to viewing figures."

However, a spokesperson has dismissed the claims as "absolute nonsense," telling Mail Online: "Cheryl is not going to be on Strictly."

Cheryl quit her role on X Factor after the 2015 judging panel – comprising, Simon, Cheryl, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw – failed to impress the public.

Cowell recently admitted that the line-up was a disaster. He told the Daily Mirror: "When we announced the new line up compared to last year, it was 95% positive, no one was saying it was a mistake and that was what we were getting last year. I mean the minute we announced it, it was like 'f**k, this doesn't feel great, let's see how it goes.'"

Cowell also revealed that he had to warn the singer to leave estranged husband, Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini at home due to his behaviour on set. He said the French entrepreneur took things rather too seriously when Cheryl's acts were voted off the show and began "screaming".

The new series of The X Factor sees Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne make a return as mentors along with former host Dermot O'Leary in an attempt to boost the flagging ratings of the floundering talent show.