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Cheryl Cole says she's not worried about Americans understanding her accent after being appointed as a judge on the US version of The X Factor.

There had been concerns that the US audience might struggle to understand her Geordie twang.

She said: "Americans can always understand me."

The Girls Aloud star said that she thought US audiences would "get used to it" and added that she was proud of her accent.

New job

Yesterday (8 May) Cheryl Cole attended the first judged audition for the new show in Los Angeles alongside the newly confirmed panel of Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell.

Speaking there she admitted she has "odd moments" where people in the US struggle to understand a phrase.

She said that her new job in the States was a "big commitment for me because I've kind of stepped out of my comfort zone and left the UK.

"You know, everything's really new for me and quite scary, so it took me a long time to get my head around being asked. I had two minutes to just go and do it."

It will mean the Girls Aloud singer will not take part in this autumn's UK version of the show.

"I'm going to miss it like crazy. I'll be keeping one eye on it, making sure everyone is OK," she said.

Presenter confusion

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell said that the decision to have Steve Jones host the show alongside singer Nicole Scherzinger was made at the "last second", adding "stuff happens".

His comments seem at odds with a quote used in the official announcement about Jones' involvement at the weekend which said: "I have always wanted Steve to work with us. I think he is a real star."

As previously reported in March, UK X Factor host Dermot O'Leary revealed he had not been offered the US job but said "at least I was the only Brit to make the shortlist.

"I do, however, understand why the producers went with an American host. It's all a question of balance."

He said he "would have loved a crack at the American gig".