'Can you understand my accent Simon?' Ant and Dec tease Simon Cowell over Cheryl Cole sacking

The controversy surrounding Cheryl Cole's surprise exit from the US X Factor infiltrated the Britain's Got Talent set

Simon Cowell finally took up his spot on the Britain’s Got Talent judging panel this Saturday night for the first live semi-final, just hours after it was confirmed that Cheryl Cole would not be rejoining the UK X Factor. 

The 51-year-old had been absent from the show while concentrating on launching the US X Factor, leaving fellow judges Amanda Holden, David Hasselhoff and Michael McIntyre to hold down the fort.

Making his grand entrance to the Superman theme music, he received a standing ovation from fellow judges, despite reported booing from angry audience members before the show started.

Hosts Ant and Dec also gave Simon a hard time, with Dec joking: ‘Can you understand my accent Simon?’ referring to rumours that fellow Geordie Cheryl was sacked from the US X Factor because audiences couldn’t understand her.

The music mogul was having none of it though, feigning confusion before brushing off the jibe, simply saying 'moving swiftly on…'

It seems the fall out from the Girls Aloud singer’s shock departure from the US X Factor is going to plague Simon.

It was reported that when the audience heard the head judge had entered the building they started booing, upset at his treatment of Cheryl.

One source told the Daily Mail: 'The gossip before the show was all about Cheryl and Simon. People were reading The Sun and saying,''Can you believe what he’s done to poor Cheryl?''

‘As soon as the warm-up guy said, 'Simon is in the building', everyone suddenly started booing. People were saying, ''That’s for Cheryl'.'

The X Factor saga continues…

SEE CHERYL'S AMERICAN X FACTOR DEBUT HERE

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