Dermot O'Leary reveals Cheryl will return to The X Factor for 2018

X Factor host Dermot O’Leary has revealed Cheryl is set to return to the show this year.

Cheryl recently made a brief comeback to the show during for the 2017 Judges’ Houses, helping Simon Cowell whittle down the groups to just three for the live shows.

It was then reported by The Sun that the former Girls Aloud star was being line up to replace Nicole Scherzinger for 2018, which now appears to have been confirmed by the show’s host.

O’Leary told Metro’s Guilty Pleasures that Cheryl “is going to come back”, although he didn’t suggest when or in what role.

And while the presenter wouldn’t mind Cheryl, O’Leary has a wishlist for another pop icon if Cheryl were unavailable.

He told the publication: “If it wasn’t Cheryl, I would love Mariah. It would be a whole new world of crazy my friend! If you think Simon turns up late…”

And the star has his fingers crossed for the National Television Awards – hosted by himself – next week, although isn’t totally confident.

He conceded: “We’ve had a bit of a hiding the last couple of years. Strictly, you can’t deny it, it’s on a great run.”

Elsewhere, O’Leary has also tipped the show to fun for another 10 years despite poor ratings against BBC export Strictly Come Dancing.

He told the Radio Times: "Does it hurt? Um, I'd love to get back up to eight million again. You want to rate well, of course you do.

And when talking about whether the show has another decade left in it, O’Leary added: “As long as the talent keeps coming, yeah. And the talent keeps showing up.”