With just a few hours to go until the first X Factor USA judges auditions, Simon Cowell has finally confirmed that Paula Abdul will be returning to his side.

It had been expected that he would appoint his former American Idol colleague to the panel, after earlier confirming that record label boss L.A Reid and
X Factor UK panellist Cheryl Cole would judge on the Fox reality TV show.

Insiders have now told THR that Paula was in negotiations with Fox until late on Friday night, and the whole deal was almost ruined because the wording of contract she signed with CBS, for her recent series Live To Dance, may have prevented her working on a rival network.

A source at CBS told AP that Paula has now been released from any obligations she had to them, and she begins filming today at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Speaking recently, X factor boss Simon Cowell admitted that he has “never found anyone better” than Paula to work with.

He said: “It is like casting a dinner party. I’ve always wanted Paula – I’ve never found anyone better. You just have to get that chemistry.

“I’ve always loved working with her even though she can be a pain.”

Roll on September!