Cheryl Cole is said to have lost out on her chance to return to The X Factor

Cheryl Cole is said to have lost out on her chance to return to The X Factor UK.

After being reportedly being dropped from the US show during her trial period, the Girls Aloud star was offered her old job back, but needed to decide quickly as auditions start in Birmingham on Wednesday.

Cheryl was given until midnight last night to say yes or no - but did not pick up Simon Cowell's calls as the deadline approached, reports the News Of The World.

'They set her a ridiculous deadline,' a friend of Cheryl's explains.

'There was a very slim chance she might have considered going back at a later date. But her heart wasn't in it. And once that deadline was set she was gone.'

Cheryl, who is said to have suffered panic attacks in LA as she struggled with her role on the American show, is in turmoil.

'Why did Simon Cowell do this to me?' she's been asking.

'Her life has been turned upside down,' a pal tells the Sunday Mirror. 'At the moment she is trying to work out what to do with her life.

'It's a nightmare. Cheryl is in pieces - she hasn't stopped crying.'

It's believed Cheryl - who is being managed by Will.i.am - will still bank her full £1.2million US X Factor fee.

The Girls Aloud star's nervousness and failure to 'mesh' with the other judges - including Paula Abdul - is believed to be the reason for her sacking during a 'trial period' - rather than her Geordie accent.

N-Dubz star Tulisa and Kelly Rowlands are expected to join Gary Barlow and Louis Walsh on the UK judging panel.

Representatives for Cheryl and The X Factor have yet to comment.