Take That's Gary Barlow is going to be replacing Simon Cowell on the X-Factor.

News Of The World claim that Cowell has 'officially endorsed' Barlow as a potential judge and that a deal could be signed within weeks.

According to a report in The Sun, 'a source' said 'Gary is now a definite. Gary knows the business inside and out. If anyone could replace Simon, it's him.'

Cowell is currently diving his time between a number of shows on both sides of the Atlantic, but he'll be concentrating on the US version of the show from now on, taking Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole with him.

'Forget Osama Bin Laden, Cheryl Cole is a judge on X-Factor,' Cowell told News of the World. 'She's such a sweetheart.'