Cheryl: Simon is 'rude' and 'nasty'

Cheryl Cole has blasted Simon Cowell for being “rude” and “nasty”.

The Girls Aloud beauty has revealed tensions between ‘The X Factor’ judges are at an all-time high now with the music mogul becoming ever more competitive with his fellow panellists.

Cheryl told BBC News: "He starts getting annoying and saying nasty things. It gets quite heated backstage, and quite competitive. I don't feel like I'm a competitive person. I feel like the best person should win ‘X Factor’, whether they're in my category or not.

“But he's so competitive and so rude sometimes that I find myself getting caught up in it.”

When it was jokingly suggested Cheryl should hit the outspoken judge, she agreed, adding: “I should do, shouldn’t I!”

Simon, famed for his acerbic tongue, has criticised Cheryl – who is looking after the boys - and their co-judge, the girls’ mentor Dannii Minogue several times recently over their song choice for their acts.

Yesterday, it was revealed he blasted them again for seemingly spending more time on their appearance and clothes for the show than working with their acts.

A source said: "In no certain terms, Simon told them it's a talent show, not a fashion show. And he thinks they’re too afraid to offend. He doesn’t want them to say just what they think the public wants to hear.”