Cheryl Cole will replace Sharon Osbourne as a judge on The X Factor, ITV said today.

The Girls Aloud star had been tipped as favourite to join Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue on the judging panel since Osbourne's dramatic exit last week.

Cole, 24, who was catapulted to fame on reality TV show Popstars: The Rivals, said it was "scary" to be joining the ITV1 show.

Osbourne, 55, who announced she was quitting on Friday, has denied she walked out because TV bosses would not meet her pay demands and over conflict with Minogue.

She had backed Cole as her favourite to take over her role, one of the biggest on TV.