Cheryl Cole says that she's only returning to the UK X Factor judging panel as a favour to a friend.

The British pop star and Simon Cowell got into a feud last year after he dropped her as judge from The X Factor USA. Before then she was a judge on the British version of the TV talent show for two seasons.

Current judge Gary Barlow orchestrated a great plan to reinstate Cheryl.

Simon tweeted "Welcome back, Cheryl" and according to UK newspaper the Metro, the songstress clarified why she was willing to return to the programme.

"I saw Simon's tweet. I'm not doing this for him," she said.

"I am doing this for Gary as he's my friend and he asked me to do it."

Apparently Cheryl had a big hand in her return to the show.

She and Gary discussed details over a drink after she performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June.

"She loved the mischief of it," a source told British publication The Sun recently.