'Cheryl is wonderful and I want to stay friends,' claims Paula Abdul as she insists she knows nothing about X Factor firing

By CHRIS JOHNSON

'I know nothing': Paula Abdul reacts awkwardly when asked about Cheryl Cole's sacking from the U.S. X Factor


Paula Abdul has described Cheryl Cole as 'wonderful' and claims she wants to stay in touch with her in the wake of the British star's firing from the U.S. X Factor.

The 48-year-old is seen here reacting rather awkwardly to news of Cheryl's departure from the hit show, insisting she doesn't know anything.

Speaking in Singapore earlier this week, Paula blamed her lack of knowledge due to travelling when the news broke and the time difference.


'I want to stay in touch': Paula went on to say she wanted to remain friends with Cheryl 'regardless' hinting she may have known more than she was letting on


'All I can tell you is that she is lovely and I was really excited about the relationship and friendship we were forging.

'And regardless I am really looking forward to continuing that. She's wonderful.'
News of 27-year-old Cheryl's sacking broke on Wednesday afternoon in Los Angeles.

Four days on, there has still been no official comment from Simon Cowell or the TV network, Fox.

It is expected Cheryl will be replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, who was initially hired as a co-host alongside Welshman Steve Jones.


On the sidelines: Cowell smiles at Paula as Cheryl watches on at a Fox event earlier this month


Sources close to Cowell claim it was not his decision to fire her and that it was executives at Fox.

It was said during the first auditions Cheryl ‘could not get a word in edgewise’ with Cowell and Abdul dominating - and when she did speak some contestants ‘couldn’t understand her.’

There is also said to have been on-going tension from day one on the show between Miss Cole and Miss Abdul over who would sit next to Cowell, described as ‘a seat war,’ by the insider.

Meanwhile, auditions begin filming for the UK X Factor on Wednesday.

A source told MailOnline the British show are still keen to get Cheryl on board, although no decision has been reached yet.

The current panel is expected to be Take That star Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, former Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos from N-Dubz.


PAULA ABDUL IN SINGAPORE 2011



source: dailymail