Nicole Scherzinger claims her best X Factor jokes are being cut… then nicked by Simon Cowell
SHE quit Cats on Broadway to return to the hot seat on X Factor.
But NICOLE SCHERZINGER can’t put her claws away yet.
The judge, left, has lashed out at boss SIMON COWELL accusing him of nicking her legendary “Scherzisms”.
This is despite him begging her back to boost ratings.
Nicole — who has coined the catchphrases “Schermazing” and “No baby no” — has even taken the matter to producers.
She claims her one-liners have been cut from footage so the music mogul is able to take full credit for the funnies.
Exposing the tensions ahead of Saturday night’s series launch, she said: “We need to do an entire segment on Simon Cowell stealing all of my ideas.
“In the beginning, I would say things and he would comment, saying the exact same thing.
“I’d be like, ‘That’s funny because I’ve just said that’ and he goes, ‘Not in the edit darling, not in the edit’.
“He’s been stealing pretty much everything. I take it as a compliment. I’m fighting with the producers now so when he tries to repeat what I have said, I try to speak over him so they can’t use it in the show.”
And LOUIS WALSH has also been taking pot-shots at the boss — by teasing him about those cosmetic surgery rumours.
Speaking about Simon yesterday, he said: “He is very relaxed and very funny this year. I think he’s looking younger this year too, have you noticed? What has he done? Something’s happened? Maybe it’s the lighting.”
And new Xtra Factor Live hosts RYLAN CLARK-NEAL and MATT EDMONDSON can’t let their guard down either — I can reveal they will present the spin-off show at a new studio in front of a live audience for the first time.
Simon added: “Louis is obsessed with Rylan. He talked to me more about him coming on the show than he did about himself returning.
“So I don’t know what he’s done to Louis but he wanted him, he got him, it’s going to be fun. I think the combination of him and Matt is going to be interesting. What I basically said is, ‘You make the show you want to make’. I’m excited.” Me too.
Sharon is winging it
I HOPE SHARON OSBOURNE has her crossword book and neck cushion at the ready because she's going to be spending the rest of the year on planes.
From this Saturday until the end of December, she will stay in London for just three nights a week due to work commitments in LA.
But she insists video messaging is all she needs to whip her Over 25s into shape.
Sharon said: "I'm going to leave LA on Thursday. I get in Friday and will go straight to the studio, be there Saturday and Sunday, then Monday morning I film with the contestants and Monday afternoon I fly home.
"Everything's on Skype these days. You might as well be in the room with them."
Fingers crossed there's strong wifi in the X Factor house.
Walsh: Cheryl's a drag
LOUIS WALSH has taken another swipe at his former co-star CHERYL.
The reinstated judge compared the pop star and her former bandmates to drag queens in the latest blow in their long-running feud.
He said: “We had some drag queens that looked like the SPICE GIRLS or maybe GIRLS ALOUD. They couldn’t sing so they reminded me of those two groups.”
He also praised former X Factor star MEL B, who is a guest judge on this year’s series.
He said: “Mel B is great, she’s fantastic, I love her energy and spirit. She’s funny, she’s unpredictable and she’s loud as hell. I love her.”
It’s also no secret that Louis rates highly returning judge NICOLE SCHERZINGER for being a “real” talent – and judging by the above snap, that talent may be in picking a top selfie filter.
But while Louis and Cheryl will never get on, SHARON OSBOURNE and SIMON COWELL actually are.
Louis added: “It’s the best they have ever been. They have become really good friends, it’s great for the show because they bring different things to it.”
Sharon won’t be throwing any water this series then...
Audacious auditionee
SIMON COWELL has told how a desperate hopeful broke through security to get her moment before him.
He said: “For whatever reason, she wasn’t going to get to audition that day.
“But she was fantastic because she found her way through and that’s exactly the sort of person I like working with. Someone who breaks the rules.”
And Simon has been rule-bending himself after revealing he has changed the live format for the new series.
He teased: “It’s going to make the shows more fun. All will be revealed.”
I hope he doesn’t ditch security altogether.
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Having a grey-t time
THERE are a few more grey hairs and wrinkles on this year’s panel.
But NICOLE SCHERZINGER has stuck up for the oldies by claiming their wisdom will make up for last year’s lack of experience following the exit of RITA ORA, NICK GRIMSHAW and CHERYL.
She said: “I don’t think the panel is too old. I mean, you have me and I’m sch-amaze to the balls.
“Simon invented this, Mrs O is the queen of rock and roll and Lou Lou has been doing this forever, so I think experience speaks for itself.”
No doubt there will be a few extra greys by the time the series is over, too.
Lazy O'Leary
IF DERMOT O’LEARY looks fresher than his X Factor co-stars it’s because he demanded extra lie-ins.
The host has revealed he agreed to return to the show on one condition – that the auditions don’t start so early.
Dermot said: “My return was skilfully negotiated around a slightly later call-time which I cherish.
“I don’t mind working till 2am as long as I don’t have to start at 8am the next day.”
I’m sure the mega payrise helped too, but I like his style.