I had a feeling Cheryl would quit The X Factor: Simon Cowell

“I had a feeling she would leave. She is at a certain place in her life at the moment. I saw her and Liam a couple of weeks ago and they looked really happy,” Cowell said.

“And I believed for a long while that her big thing was to make records. It’s a huge commitment to do one of these shows.”

However, there’s no fallout or bad feeling from the decision. In fact Cowell has Cheryl in mind for a future show he’s working on.

“We are on good terms and will probably end up doing something else together. Maybe a different sort of show. I have something in mind I want to talk to her about. But I don’t think a break will do her any harm.”

Besides Cheryl, Nick Grimshaw has already confirmed his departure from “The X Factor” after one year on the judging panel.

Presenters Olly Murs and Caroline Flack have also left the show, with ex-host Dermot O’Leary returning to front the competition.