Ashley Cole threw wife Cheryl a surprise 26th birthday party, amid rumours she is due to become the face of the Amercan X Factor.

Cheryl turned up at London's Vanilla club in a £4,000 Alexander McQueen dress expecting quiet drinks with bandmate Kimberley Walsh - and instead was surprised by a host of famous friends.

Fellow Girl Aloud Nicola Roberts and fellow X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh joined Cheryl at the surprise bash.

Meanwhile, The Mirror reports that Simon Cowell is desperate for Cheryl to host a US version of The X Factor.

Senior executives from American TV station NBC are reportedly flying to Manchester this weekend to see Cheryl in action at UK auditions.

A source said: "Simon is on the brink of signing a deal to take The X Factor to America and, if he gets his way, Cheryl will be its star.

"If it is a success, like most of Simon's shows are, it could catapult her into the big league."

See who turned up for Cheryl's surprise birthday bash...