There has of course been much speculation that former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole was to reunite with Girls Aloud to launch a comeback, and today, it’s finally been confirmed that it’s true!

Cheryl has once again hooked up with Kimberley Walsh – who is currently competing on Strictly Come Dancing – Nicola Roberts, Sarah Harding and Nadine Coyle, and they’re working on a new single.

The Daily Star states, “The girls took a supposed ‘year-long hiatus’ in 2009, which stretched on three times as long until they eventually agreed to put their Whole Lotta History behind them to mark their 10th anniversary next month.”

A source close to the band said, “The girls recorded tracks with their long-time collaborators Xenomania as early as May this year.

“Some of them recorded their vocals separately, so they didn’t actually see each other that much during the process…

“Obviously, Nadine has been pretty estranged from the group during their time off, too.

“But on Tuesday, all five were together to film the video for their big return song, which is due out next month.

“It was the last possible opportunity they would all have to get together in time for the release, as Cheryl has been busy rehearsing for her tour and Kimberley’s training schedule for Strictly has been getting more and more intense.”

In other X Factor news, judge Gary Barlow has vowed to exact revenge on Simon Cowell for various jibes he’s made about him, including some made by author Tom Bower in his biography of Cowell, which claimed Simon was angry with ITV and X Factor executives for taking Gary on as a judge for a second year.

And according to insiders, there’s no love lost between Gary and Simon who apparently no longer speak about anything other than the show.

The Mirror quotes Gary as saying of Simon, “We get messages every couple of weeks. He gets the show sent to him.

“He approves the shows, but I think they are probably quite busy over there at the moment.”

He added, “I don’t get advice. We get feedback on the show.”

And of what Simon is quoted in Bower’s book as allegedly saying, Gary said, “I’ve had plenty of abuse in the last 22 years. I’m used to it.

“This book thing, it’s an unofficial book.”

But he warned, “Wait until my book comes out. It will be bloody beautiful. I’m gonna get the lot of them.”

I can’t wait to read that!