Simon Cowell has revealed that Cheryl was originally a Britain’s Got Talent judge before she quit the show just days before it’s launch in 2007.

Speaking ahead of the show returning for it’s 18th series on Saturday, the music mogul, 65, claimed the Girls Aloud star, who would go on to become an X Factor judge the following year, ‘freaked out’ throwing the show into chaos.

Simon recalled how the series only had one week to find a replacement to join himself and Piers Morgan, 59, on the panel, claiming Amanda Holden, 54, was the ‘only choice’ and she’s remained on the show ever since. 

The latest series’ judging panel consists of Simon, Amanda, Alesha Dixon, 46,  Bruno Tonilio, 69, as well as special guest judge KSI, 31.

Gushing over Amanda’s tenure, he said: ‘She is our Britain’s Got Talent queen and she deserves that crown. And you know what? She was an interesting booking because we’d offered the role to Cheryl Cole, as she was known in those days.

‘A week before filming, she calls me and goes, “I just can’t do it” and wouldn’t give me a reason. I think she was freaked out. We literally had two judges and a week to book someone’.

Simon Cowell has revealed that Cheryl was originally a Britain’s Got Talent judge before she quit the show just days ahead of it’s launch in 2007

Speaking ahead of the show returning for it’s 18th series the music mogul, 65, claimed the singer, who would go on to become an X Factor judge the following year (pictured) ‘freaked out’ throwing the show into chaos 

Simon recalled how the show only had one week to find a replacement to join himself and Piers Morgan (L) on the panel, claiming Amanda Holden , 54, was the ‘only choice’ and she’s remained on the show ever since (pictured 2007)

‘I just knew it had to be Amanda because I’d met her and I really liked her, she was very funny and I just thought she’d fit the show perfectly’. 

He continued: ‘Fast forward 18 years and she’s still a huge success and we have become great friends. I do consider her one of my best friends’.

MailOnline have contacted Cheryl’s reps for comment.  

It comes after Simon claimed that Britain’s Got Talent crew members ‘saved his life’ after a dangerous act ‘nearly killed him’.

The show is set set to return to screens later this month and as a plethora of auditionees upped the ante in a bid to impress the judges, it appears that the element of danger also increased as Simon was left fearing for his life amid one particularly nail-biting audition.

He found himself dicing with danger as a mallet-wielding blindfolded daredevil smashed watermelons just inches from his head, according to The Mirror.

Upcoming scenes on the show will see Amanda and Alesha screaming in terror as Simon lies on stage with bits of watermelon flying around him as the man swings the mallet, before a member of the health and safety team rushes on stage to halt the act.

After the act is stopped, a shaken Simon sits up and reportedly recovers enough to exclaim: ‘Are you f***ing crazy?’, clearly in shock at what had just occurred.

He said: ‘A week before filming, she calls me and goes, “I just can’t do it” and wouldn’t give me a reason. I think she was freaked out’ (Cheryl pictured 2007)

The latest series’ panel consists of Simon, Amanda, Alesha Dixon , 46, Bruno Tonilio, 69, as well as special guest judge KSI , 31, with Ant and Dec returning as hosts 

Speaking to the publication at a preview for the show,  Simon recalled: ‘It’s that feeling when you kind of think somebody doesn’t want you on the show any more. It was that. It was the closest, genuinely, where I’m thinking “they actually want to kill me”. 

‘And I swear to God, that’s how I felt because this guy got really nervous and he’d slipped and was shaking as he was smashing these watermelons.’

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He continued: ‘The health and safety guys, normally quite annoying, actually stopped him. Thank God, they saved my life. When you’re up there you’re immersed in it and then you go home and think “that sh*t is dark, I nearly got killed twelve times”.’

Meanwhile, Amanda admitted that seeing her pal coming so close to being harmed was ‘horrific’ and ‘hard’ to watch as she told at her unease at Simon moving after being instructed to stay still. 

She shared: ‘Even with St. John’s Ambulance – I don’t know what they would’ve done – but in the wings it was so precarious because it was melon they were smashing, so the water was everywhere. Any kind of safety that there must have been was out the window. It was very hard to watch.’

Alesha went on to note that she was ‘genuinely worried’ and realised how much she ‘cared’ for Simon when seeing him in possible danger. 

Meanwhile, it’s revealed that there is another act, called Auzzy Blood, that will also leave viewers hiding behind their cushions.

With stunts including hoisting himself up from the ground using a nasal hook, the judges warn that this moment may attract OfCom complaints. 

The new series of Britain’s Got Talent kicks off on Saturday 22nd February at the earlier time of 7pm, on ITV1, ITVX and STV.