'I'm so glad I have a car coming': Cheryl Cole makes her X Factor return to help Gary Barlow in judges' houses
But as she helped friend Gary Barlow whittle down six acts to three for his Over 28s, she spoke of her relief she wasn't returning to the show full-time.
As the Take That was seen mulling over the six acts following their performances in the 'judges' houses' stage of the competition, she joked: 'I'm so glad I have a car coming soon.'
Back for good? Not really: Cheryl Cole made a cameo on The X Factor as she helped Gary Barlow at judges' houses
Cheryl famously left the show after the 2010 series to be a judge on X Factor USA last year.
Although she ruled out a return to the UK show, she said she had cameod this year as a favour to her friend Gary.
However, she was fired from the USA show after just a few weeks on the job, amidst rumours Americans had struggled to understand her Geordie accent.
Strange to be back: Cheryl and Gary discuss the acts in the garden of a country house
While the Girls, Boys and Groups were flown to St Lucia, Dubai and Las Vegas, Gary whittled down his Over 28s at Boughton House in Northamptonshire.
Gary decided to remain in the UK so he could be close to his family after the tragic death of his baby daughter Poppy in August.
The six Overs finalists Kye Sones, Melanie Masson, Nicola Marie, Brad Shackleton, Carolynne Poole, Christopher Maloney were stunned when they discovered their mentor would be Gary.
Dramatic look: Cheryl wore heavy make-up for her brief return to the show
After being whisked to Boughton House, the hopefuls were greeted by Gary and Cheryl, who arrived in a helicopter.
She told them: 'I've been there and I have been here so I know how you are all feeling, I am just excited to see what you have got.
'I think it's going to be amazing and I wish you the best of luck from the bottom of my heart.'
Please welcome... Cheryl Cole: Gary surprises the contestants when he introduces Cheryl as his assistant
As she and Gary sat on luxury garden furniture in the grounds of the country estate, she said: 'This is very English... all we need is some scones.'
When Carolynne entered the garden for her audition, she admitted she was 'gutted' last year when she didn't progress past judges' houses.
When Cheryl found out Louis Walsh - who she has a love/hate relationship with stemming back to when he managed Girls Aloud - was her mentor, she joked: 'I would be gutted too.'
'I can't be long, I've got a car coming': Cheryl jokes about her relief at not having to chose between them
After watching all the contestants, Cheryl agreed with Gary it was a tough decision.
She said: 'I'm so glad I have a car coming soon. How are you going to make your decision?'
Viewers will have to tune into Sunday night's episode to find out which 12 acts will progress through to the live X Factor shows next week.
Famous friends: Gary and Cheryl have been friends for several years
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