Simon Cowell has been throwing more hints out on who he will chose for his new X Factor judging panel.

When asked if would join him on the US version Cowell told The New York Post: “I think she would be great over here – Cheryl’s a star.”

On other possibilities he added: “It’s pointless hiring judges who don’t know anything about the music business. I’ll probably go and find someone who did what I did for a living. I was an A&R guy for 20 years.

“I thought Tommy Mottola would be a good choice. He was the guy who was the head of Sony – he guided Mariah [Carey] – very flamboyant, knows what he’s talking about.”

So not Elton John then?