Cheryl Cole's X Factor USA Debut Wins Critics' Praise - Video

Cheryl Cole's debut as a judge on The X Factor USA has been praised by critics.

The Girls Aloud star features in the first half of the opening episode of the new series before being replaced by Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger.

The episode does not air in America until tonight (September 12), but critics who been given a preview to the show reacted warmly to Cole's brief appearance.

Neil Glenzinger of the New York Times wrote: “The opening episode gives a surprising amount of screen time to Cheryl Cole, a British pop star whom Mr Cowell jettisoned from the panel last spring, in the middle of auditions.

“In the premiere she just kind of disappears midshow, without much explanation, and suddenly Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls is in her chair.”

He added “It’s a downgrade. Ms Cole showed glimmers of being interesting; in two seasons as a judge on The Sing-Off on NBC, Ms. Scherzinger was a pretty face but, judicially speaking, not much more than a seat warmer.”

Cheryl Cole's brief appearance on The X Factor USA before she was fired.

Cole was reportedly fired over fears Americans would not be able to understand her Northern accent.

But the critic for the Los Angeles Times said Cole “is much more interesting than Scherzinger, if only for her fabulous Geordie accent”.

The rest of the X Factor USA panel consists of Simon Cowell, LA Reid and Paula Abdul, while British TV presenter Steve Jones hosts the show.

Cheryl Cole's X Factor USA Story In Pictures