Attention Seeker: Cole's coffee pics were staged. Pic: ITV
Cheryl Cole's "walkabout" photographs were carefully stage-managed in a bid to convince Simon Cowell that she is fit enough to return to work on The X Factor, a report has claimed.
The 27-year-old is said to be "in a panic" about Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger taking her place on the reality TV singing contest.
An insider told the Daily Star that Cole posed for pictures of her going out to buy a coffee in a bid to capture Cowell's attention.
The Girls Aloud babe was recently snapped by photographers while buying a beverage from her local Starbucks outlet.
An X Factor insider told the newspaper: "Cheryl felt the need to prove she's back and feeling fine after battling the illness that put her into intensive care.
"I mean popping out for coffee - when was the last time she popped out for a coffee?
"She has aides and family members to carry out her every whim.
"In reality Cheryl was just desperate to be seen out and get her picture in the paper to show fans she's on the way back.
"Eventually it was agreed to let her go out in a bid to get her to calm down. More importantly, she wanted to send a message to Simon to make sure he doesn't forget her, and also to remind Nicole that she's just a stand-in and not to make herself too at home."
But the insider added: "However the sad truth is that malaria takes a long time to get over and Cheryl - though looking well - is still a long way from being fully fit."
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