'She wasn't herself last year': Simon Cowell admits Cheryl Fernandez-Versini is 'much happier' on the new series of X Factor

By Ciara Farmer For Mailonline

Published: 11:17 EST, 4 August 2015 | Updated: 15:57 EST, 4 August 2015

He famously dropped her from US version of The X Factor, leading to a spectacularly acrimonious parting of ways.

However, Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini managed to bury the hatchet when the 32-year-old singer rejoined the judging panel of the British version of the talent show last year after leaving in 2011.

Despite her having got her old job back to great fanfare, though, Simon has now insisted that Cheryl 'wasn't herself' during the 2014 series, during which she sat alongside judges Mel B and Louis Walsh.

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'It got a bit too much for her': Simon Cowell has admitted that Cheryl Fernandez-Versini seemed 'off' during last year's series of The X Factor, after making her long-awaited 

'It got a bit too much for her': Simon Cowell has admitted that Cheryl Fernandez-Versini seemed 'off' during last year's series of The X Factor, after making her long-awaited 

Simon revealed that he knew the last series would not be fun because something didn't feel right during filming. 

He told Hello! magazine: 'She's definitely happier than she was a year ago, much happier ... I think sometimes you can go through years when everything gets a bit too much and I think for Cheryl - I don't know what it was about last year - there was something off.

'The last series just didn't feel right to me from the minute I started recording it. I never felt it was going to be fun.'

He added: 'This year, it feels different. I'm not putting it down to Cheryl, but she's in a different place, I'm in a different place.'

Happier this year: The TV and music mogul reckons that this year, though, things are better for Cheryl and that she is 'happier' 

Happier this year: The TV and music mogul reckons that this year, though, things are better for Cheryl and that she is 'happier' 

Old line-up: Cheryl re-joined the X Factor panel last year after a three-year break - and an unsuccessful attempt on the US version of the show - alongside Simon, Mel B and Louis Walsh

Old line-up: Cheryl re-joined the X Factor panel last year after a three-year break - and an unsuccessful attempt on the US version of the show - alongside Simon, Mel B and Louis Walsh

Simon has completely shaken up the judging panel this year: after reinstating Cheryl last year, he recruited Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora for the forthcoming series, after Louis left after 11 years on the panel.

The music mogul insists he is over the judging panel feuds and wants the full focus to be on contestants. 

He adds: 'I'm kind of bored with all the fights. I just want to get it back to the talent.'

Old pals: Cheryl famously appeared on The X Factor for a few years (pictured above in 2010) before leaving in the hopes of making it across the pond 

Old pals: Cheryl famously appeared on The X Factor for a few years (pictured above in 2010) before leaving in the hopes of making it across the pond 

He told Hello! magazine: 'She's definitely happier than she was a year ago, much happier ... I think sometimes you can go through years when everything gets a bit too much'

He told Hello! magazine: 'She's definitely happier than she was a year ago, much happier ... I think sometimes you can go through years when everything gets a bit too much'

Excitement for the revamped X Factor is gaining momentum since a teaser trailer was released last week. 

In the sci-fi clip, Cheryl is cloned in a mad scientist themed skit, with hundreds of Chez-Bots ready and waiting to find the next big talent.

The teaser sees presenting duo Caroline Flack and Olly Murs enter an undercover laboratory to meet the judging team and reveal the secret formula behind the new series.

Viewers will see Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw being fitted with a special judging microchip, only to realise there's been a mix-up as he starts spouting axed judge Louis Walsh's famous catchphrases including the classic: 'You look like a popstar, you sound like a popstar.' 

Cheryl previously revealed to The Mirror that following the sad death of Cowell's beloved mother Julie last month, she would try to fight less with her boss. 

She said: 'Me and Simon are still rowing, but it's playful. He knows which buttons to press.

'We'd had a bit of a spat. But with everything that's gone on with Simon [and his mum] I thought, 'It's not worth it'.' 

The X Factor is set to return to ITV later this month. 

Read the full interview in Hello! magazine, which is out now. 

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