Cheryl Cole sparks rumours of 'X Factor' return

London, Nov 14 : Cheryl Cole's visit to the home of Gary Barlow, current judge on 'The X factor', has sparked rumours that she is preparing for a return to the hit ITV show.

Sporting a peak cap and black military coat, the 28-year-old singer was spotted making a discreet trip to Barlow's west London mansion last week.

Sources claim that music mogul Simon Cowell has been trying to woo Cole back to the hit programme when judge Kelly Rowland fell ill halfway through the series and was replaced by Alexandra Burke.

However, that show fell foul of accusations of "fixing" over the return of bookmakers' favourite Amelia Lily, 17, when a story hailing her return to the show in place of shamed Frankie Cocozza, 18, appeared on an official X Factor website before vote lines had closed.

The show also suffered at the hands of a massive technical hitch at London's BT Tower which saw the programme starting 15 minutes late and with the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' picking up massive ratings this year, Cole is seen as a lifeline.

An insider has revealed that Cowell has made the pop star an offer "she can't refuse", but a spokeswomen for the show and the singer's own spokesman were quick to deny the rumours.

"There is no truth in Cheryl coming back to the UK show as a mentor," the Daily Express quoted 'The X Factor' spokeswoman as saying.

"Cheryl Cole is not returning to X Factor as a guest judge," Cole's spokesman said.