Here come the girls: Elizabeth Hurley, Holly Valance and Sophie Dahl lead the glamour at Ark gala dinner

By Sarah Bull


Glamour girls: Elizabeth Hurley and Holly Valance led the glamour at the Ark gala dinner at Kensington Palace


Elizabeth Hurley, Holly Valance and Sophie Dahl led the glamour at the Ark gala dinner this evening.

While Hurley opted for a grey Roberto Cavalli dress, Patrick Cox shoes and a Jimmy Choo bag, Valance looked stunning in a navy blue full-length dress with beaded detailing along the neckline and at the waist.

Meanwhile, Sophie Dahl made her first public appearance since the birth of her baby girl Lyra in March.

New parents: Sophie Dahl made her first public appearance since the birth of her daughter Lyra, and was accompanied by husband Jamie Cullum


The 33-year-old model appears to have sprung back into shape after her pregnancy and showed off her figure in a black lace dress as she arrived at the event with husband Jamie Cullum.

And motherhood is clearly suiting Sophie, who looked radiant as she posed for photographers outside Kensington Palace.

A statement released shortly after the birth of their daughter, read: 'Musician Jamie Cullum and his wife, the author and presenter Sophie Dahl, have become parents.

'Their daughter Lyra was born on March the second. They are over the moon.'

Dates for the evening: Hurley attended with shoe designer Patrick Cox while Holly was accompanied by businessman boyfriend Nick Candy

Leggy lady: Hurley stuck to her age-old formula and flashed some leg in her dress, which was split to the thigh


And while Dahl was accompanied by husband Cullum, there was no sign of Hurley's boyfriend Shane Warne, and the mother-of-one instead attended with shoe designer Patrick Cox.

However, Warne spoke about his relationship with Hurley in a radio interview earlier this week, telling the interviewer: 'She's a lovely lady. We get along very well and things are going great.'

Former pop singer-turned-actress Valance was accompanied on the red carpet by her businessman boyfriend Nick Candy.

Metallic: Jemima Khan shone in a bronze full-length number while Laura Bailey looked ethereal in nude

Standing out from the crowd: Mariella Frostrup wore florals while Tracey Emin wore a bright pink dress with a black train


The event was the 10th anniversary gala dinner of the charity Absolute Return for Kids (Ark), co-founded in 2002 by financier Arpad Busson, who hosted the evening.

Other celebrities to make an appearance at the event included Jemima Khan, who looked stunning in a bronze Grecian-style dress, and model Laura Bailey, who chose to wear an ethereal nude frilled number.

Mariella Frostrup went for a more colorful outfit, however, in a floral-print dress while artist Tracey Emin also stood out from the crowd in a bright pink number.

The Duchess dazzles: Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended


Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were also in attendance, on behalf of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry - an organisation which raises sustainable funds for charitable grants.

The Duchess looked stunning in a shimmering dusky pink cap-sleeve gown by designer Jenny Packham which she teamed with pink suede LK Bennett sandals.

With her hair down and her outfit accessorised with tiny drop earrings, Kate appeared relaxed and William looked smart in a dinner jacket and bow-tie.

The gala dinner was held in an enormous luxury marquee which appeared more like a small building.

As the guests arrived, a troupe of divers entertained them by diving acrobatically into a specially constructed pool.


Hand-in-hand: Elizabeth Murdoch and Matthew Freud (left) and Anish Kapoor with his partner arrive for the event


source:dailymail

Here come the girls: Elizabeth Hurley, Holly Valance and Sophie Dahl lead the glamour at Ark gala dinner

By Sarah Bull


Glamour girls: Elizabeth Hurley and Holly Valance led the glamour at the Ark gala dinner at Kensington Palace


Elizabeth Hurley, Holly Valance and Sophie Dahl led the glamour at the Ark gala dinner this evening.

While Hurley opted for a grey Roberto Cavalli dress, Patrick Cox shoes and a Jimmy Choo bag, Valance looked stunning in a navy blue full-length dress with beaded detailing along the neckline and at the waist.

Meanwhile, Sophie Dahl made her first public appearance since the birth of her baby girl Lyra in March.

New parents: Sophie Dahl made her first public appearance since the birth of her daughter Lyra, and was accompanied by husband Jamie Cullum


The 33-year-old model appears to have sprung back into shape after her pregnancy and showed off her figure in a black lace dress as she arrived at the event with husband Jamie Cullum.

And motherhood is clearly suiting Sophie, who looked radiant as she posed for photographers outside Kensington Palace.

A statement released shortly after the birth of their daughter, read: 'Musician Jamie Cullum and his wife, the author and presenter Sophie Dahl, have become parents.

'Their daughter Lyra was born on March the second. They are over the moon.'

Dates for the evening: Hurley attended with shoe designer Patrick Cox while Holly was accompanied by businessman boyfriend Nick Candy

Leggy lady: Hurley stuck to her age-old formula and flashed some leg in her dress, which was split to the thigh


And while Dahl was accompanied by husband Cullum, there was no sign of Hurley's boyfriend Shane Warne, and the mother-of-one instead attended with shoe designer Patrick Cox.

However, Warne spoke about his relationship with Hurley in a radio interview earlier this week, telling the interviewer: 'She's a lovely lady. We get along very well and things are going great.'

Former pop singer-turned-actress Valance was accompanied on the red carpet by her businessman boyfriend Nick Candy.

Metallic: Jemima Khan shone in a bronze full-length number while Laura Bailey looked ethereal in nude

Standing out from the crowd: Mariella Frostrup wore florals while Tracey Emin wore a bright pink dress with a black train


The event was the 10th anniversary gala dinner of the charity Absolute Return for Kids (Ark), co-founded in 2002 by financier Arpad Busson, who hosted the evening.

Other celebrities to make an appearance at the event included Jemima Khan, who looked stunning in a bronze Grecian-style dress, and model Laura Bailey, who chose to wear an ethereal nude frilled number.

Mariella Frostrup went for a more colorful outfit, however, in a floral-print dress while artist Tracey Emin also stood out from the crowd in a bright pink number.

The Duchess dazzles: Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended


Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were also in attendance, on behalf of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry - an organisation which raises sustainable funds for charitable grants.

The Duchess looked stunning in a shimmering dusky pink cap-sleeve gown by designer Jenny Packham which she teamed with pink suede LK Bennett sandals.

With her hair down and her outfit accessorised with tiny drop earrings, Kate appeared relaxed and William looked smart in a dinner jacket and bow-tie.

The gala dinner was held in an enormous luxury marquee which appeared more like a small building.

As the guests arrived, a troupe of divers entertained them by diving acrobatically into a specially constructed pool.


Hand-in-hand: Elizabeth Murdoch and Matthew Freud (left) and Anish Kapoor with his partner arrive for the event


source:dailymail

The Duchess dazzles: Kate and William bring a touch of glamour to charity gala

By Daily Mail Reporter


Simply stunning: All eyes were on the Duchess of Cambridge as she she made her way inside the gala dinner


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a dazzling entrance at a charity gala dinner at Kensington Palace this evening.

Looking stunning in a Jenny Packham gown, accessorised with LK Bennett shoes and a clutch bag, Kate brought her usual touch of simple elegance to the Duke and Duchess's first official public engagement as a married couple.

The couple are attending the 10th annual Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) Gala Dinner.

What an entrance: Kate steps from the limousine to hordes of spectators hoping to catch a glimpse of the newest addition to the Royal Family

Dazzling: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving at the Ark Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace


Kate's style has been scrutinised since officially becoming a member of the Royal family following her wedding to Prince William in April.

With her recent appearances meeting the Obamas at Buckingham Palace - and watching the horse racing at the Epsom Derby at the weekend - she tested the sartorial water with simple but chic pieces.

However, the Duchess pulled out all the stops for this evening's glamorous event.

William and Kate are attending the reception with 900 other guests at Perks Field and will later sit down to a private dinner before the prince gives a speech.

Musician Mark Ronson and his band will perform for the royals and guests.

The Duke and Duchess are attending on behalf of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry - a body which raises sustainable funds for charitable grants.

Star attraction: William and Kate didn't disappoint on their first official public engagement as a married couple

Glowing: Kate's beautiful gown was teamed with LK Bennett shoes and a clutch bag


The gala dinner was held in an enormous luxury marquee which appeared more like a small building.

As the guests arrived, a troupe of divers entertained them by diving acrobatically into a specially constructed pool.

When the royal couple's Jaguar limousine pulled up, they were greeted by calls from banks of photographers asking them to pose for a picture.

Financier Arpad Busson, co-founder of the organisation, warmly welcomed them before they climbed a few steps to the entrance of the building before posing and smiling for the waiting cameras.

Outside the banquet hall was a covered reception area with two champagne bars and stalls serving sumptuous canapes from the Mediterranean and Far East where guests gathered before dinner was served.

Hot ticket: The couple's presence at the gala will shine a spotlight on work carried out by the charity


The Duke and Duchess mingled with some of the more prominent figures or chatted to associates of their host, Mr Busson, known as Arki to his friends.

William and Kate were the centre of attention with people crowding around them to get a view of the newlyweds or take their picture on camera phones.

Mr Busson has two sons with his former partner, model Elle Macpherson, and in recent years has dated actress Uma Thurman.

The royal couple chatted to his sons, Flynn Busson, 13, and his eight-year-old brother, Cy, laughing and joking with them.

After about 45 minutes, they made their way into the circular banqueting room which was filled with almost 100 oval tables.

Meet and greet: From left to right, financier Arpad Busson, Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Ian Wace, also a co-founder of Ark


Among the guests seated on the Duke and Duchess's table were Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth, actress Liz Hurley, socialite Jemima Khan and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup.

Elizabeth Murdoch, the daughter of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, also had a place, as did William's private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, and Baroness de Rothschild.

Anish Kapoor, the British-based, Indian-born sculptor, who won the Turner Prize in 1991, was another guest with a seat close to the Duke and Duchess.

Kate sat between Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, a distant relative of William, and Mr Busson, while her husband was opposite her with socialite Countess Debonaire von Bismarck on his left and Princess Marie of Greece on his other side.

Wrapped around the edge of the room was a multi-coloured dot-matrix display which would later be used to show the bidding for charity lots that included a stay on the Maltese Falcon - the world's largest sailing yacht - or a Kenyan safari at a luxury lodge.

Captivating: Kate seems to have taken to public life with ease as she chats with Matthew Freud


On the tables were tiny consoles to allow the wealthy guests to place their bids and around the room were swings for performers to use to entertain the guests.

Musician Mark Ronson and his band were due to entertain the diners later and a mystery band - rumoured to be the Kings Of Leon - were also performing.

The £10,000-a-head dinner will also feature auctions to raise donations for Ark, which has projects helping disadvantaged children around the globe.

In the UK it sponsors a number of academy schools and runs other projects like Teaching Leaders and Future Leaders.

Ark was co-founded in 2002 by the financier Arpad Busson, who now acts as a trustee of the organisation.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: 'Over the past 10 years, Ark's programmes in the UK, Southern Africa, eastern Europe and India have transformed the lives of more than 200,000 children.

'In tackling access to healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa, improving educational opportunities in the UK, US and India, and giving children the chance to live in a caring and nurturing environment in Eastern Europe, Ark is helping to overcome some of the most severe blights on children's lives.

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE IS ON SPARKLING FASHION FORM...

We know she can make Topshop and Reiss look a million dollars, but in shimmering Jenny Packham at the ARK Gala Dinner in London last night, the Duchess of Cambridge took her style cred to the next level.

The pale pink gown, which sells at the designer's Mayfair boutique for £3,800, was dripping with sequins and crystals, and the perfect choice from the British designer's spring/summer collection.

Style cred: The Duchess of Cambridge dazzled in palest pink Jenny Packham at the ARK Gala last night

The high neckline looked sophisticated, while the figure-hugging cut made the most of her slender frame.

But, fan of the High Street that she is, Catherine couldn't resist teaming the dress with a pair of shoes from LK Bennett, one of her favourite brands.

It was a smart decision - plain colour-matched courts or simple strappy sandals would have been a safe choice, but the bow detail on the ankle looked fresh and pretty

Packham is best known for her bridal designs, and had been hotly tipped to design Catherine's wedding dress.

But her designs are more and more frequently seen on the red carpet, by A-listers including Beyonce, Sarah Jessica Parker and Angelina Jolie.

Emma Roberts wore a gown from the same collection as Catherine for the Oscars and Vanessa Hudgens chose a backless number for the premiere of Sucker Punch.

A-list fans: Jenny Packham is a red carpet favourite with stars including Emma Roberts, Angelina Jolie and Vanessa Hudgens to name just a few, though she made her name as a bridal designer

But while the designer has been well-established on the British fashion scene for many years, the impact of the 'Kate effect', is set to see her star soar even higher.

Last week it emerged that Catherine had a stronger impact on retail sales than Michelle Obama, fashion's so-called $3billion woman.

(TAMARA ABRAHAM)

Star quality: Liz Hurley, Sophie Dahl and Jemima Khan arrive at the gala




source: dailymail

The Duchess dazzles: Kate and William bring a touch of glamour to charity gala

By Daily Mail Reporter


Simply stunning: All eyes were on the Duchess of Cambridge as she she made her way inside the gala dinner


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a dazzling entrance at a charity gala dinner at Kensington Palace this evening.

Looking stunning in a Jenny Packham gown, accessorised with LK Bennett shoes and a clutch bag, Kate brought her usual touch of simple elegance to the Duke and Duchess's first official public engagement as a married couple.

The couple are attending the 10th annual Absolute Return for Kids (Ark) Gala Dinner.

What an entrance: Kate steps from the limousine to hordes of spectators hoping to catch a glimpse of the newest addition to the Royal Family

Dazzling: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving at the Ark Gala Dinner at Kensington Palace


Kate's style has been scrutinised since officially becoming a member of the Royal family following her wedding to Prince William in April.

With her recent appearances meeting the Obamas at Buckingham Palace - and watching the horse racing at the Epsom Derby at the weekend - she tested the sartorial water with simple but chic pieces.

However, the Duchess pulled out all the stops for this evening's glamorous event.

William and Kate are attending the reception with 900 other guests at Perks Field and will later sit down to a private dinner before the prince gives a speech.

Musician Mark Ronson and his band will perform for the royals and guests.

The Duke and Duchess are attending on behalf of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry - a body which raises sustainable funds for charitable grants.

Star attraction: William and Kate didn't disappoint on their first official public engagement as a married couple

Glowing: Kate's beautiful gown was teamed with LK Bennett shoes and a clutch bag


The gala dinner was held in an enormous luxury marquee which appeared more like a small building.

As the guests arrived, a troupe of divers entertained them by diving acrobatically into a specially constructed pool.

When the royal couple's Jaguar limousine pulled up, they were greeted by calls from banks of photographers asking them to pose for a picture.

Financier Arpad Busson, co-founder of the organisation, warmly welcomed them before they climbed a few steps to the entrance of the building before posing and smiling for the waiting cameras.

Outside the banquet hall was a covered reception area with two champagne bars and stalls serving sumptuous canapes from the Mediterranean and Far East where guests gathered before dinner was served.

Hot ticket: The couple's presence at the gala will shine a spotlight on work carried out by the charity


The Duke and Duchess mingled with some of the more prominent figures or chatted to associates of their host, Mr Busson, known as Arki to his friends.

William and Kate were the centre of attention with people crowding around them to get a view of the newlyweds or take their picture on camera phones.

Mr Busson has two sons with his former partner, model Elle Macpherson, and in recent years has dated actress Uma Thurman.

The royal couple chatted to his sons, Flynn Busson, 13, and his eight-year-old brother, Cy, laughing and joking with them.

After about 45 minutes, they made their way into the circular banqueting room which was filled with almost 100 oval tables.

Meet and greet: From left to right, financier Arpad Busson, Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Ian Wace, also a co-founder of Ark


Among the guests seated on the Duke and Duchess's table were Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth, actress Liz Hurley, socialite Jemima Khan and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup.

Elizabeth Murdoch, the daughter of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, also had a place, as did William's private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, and Baroness de Rothschild.

Anish Kapoor, the British-based, Indian-born sculptor, who won the Turner Prize in 1991, was another guest with a seat close to the Duke and Duchess.

Kate sat between Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, a distant relative of William, and Mr Busson, while her husband was opposite her with socialite Countess Debonaire von Bismarck on his left and Princess Marie of Greece on his other side.

Wrapped around the edge of the room was a multi-coloured dot-matrix display which would later be used to show the bidding for charity lots that included a stay on the Maltese Falcon - the world's largest sailing yacht - or a Kenyan safari at a luxury lodge.

Captivating: Kate seems to have taken to public life with ease as she chats with Matthew Freud


On the tables were tiny consoles to allow the wealthy guests to place their bids and around the room were swings for performers to use to entertain the guests.

Musician Mark Ronson and his band were due to entertain the diners later and a mystery band - rumoured to be the Kings Of Leon - were also performing.

The £10,000-a-head dinner will also feature auctions to raise donations for Ark, which has projects helping disadvantaged children around the globe.

In the UK it sponsors a number of academy schools and runs other projects like Teaching Leaders and Future Leaders.

Ark was co-founded in 2002 by the financier Arpad Busson, who now acts as a trustee of the organisation.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: 'Over the past 10 years, Ark's programmes in the UK, Southern Africa, eastern Europe and India have transformed the lives of more than 200,000 children.

'In tackling access to healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa, improving educational opportunities in the UK, US and India, and giving children the chance to live in a caring and nurturing environment in Eastern Europe, Ark is helping to overcome some of the most severe blights on children's lives.

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE IS ON SPARKLING FASHION FORM...

We know she can make Topshop and Reiss look a million dollars, but in shimmering Jenny Packham at the ARK Gala Dinner in London last night, the Duchess of Cambridge took her style cred to the next level.

The pale pink gown, which sells at the designer's Mayfair boutique for £3,800, was dripping with sequins and crystals, and the perfect choice from the British designer's spring/summer collection.

Style cred: The Duchess of Cambridge dazzled in palest pink Jenny Packham at the ARK Gala last night

The high neckline looked sophisticated, while the figure-hugging cut made the most of her slender frame.

But, fan of the High Street that she is, Catherine couldn't resist teaming the dress with a pair of shoes from LK Bennett, one of her favourite brands.

It was a smart decision - plain colour-matched courts or simple strappy sandals would have been a safe choice, but the bow detail on the ankle looked fresh and pretty

Packham is best known for her bridal designs, and had been hotly tipped to design Catherine's wedding dress.

But her designs are more and more frequently seen on the red carpet, by A-listers including Beyonce, Sarah Jessica Parker and Angelina Jolie.

Emma Roberts wore a gown from the same collection as Catherine for the Oscars and Vanessa Hudgens chose a backless number for the premiere of Sucker Punch.

A-list fans: Jenny Packham is a red carpet favourite with stars including Emma Roberts, Angelina Jolie and Vanessa Hudgens to name just a few, though she made her name as a bridal designer

But while the designer has been well-established on the British fashion scene for many years, the impact of the 'Kate effect', is set to see her star soar even higher.

Last week it emerged that Catherine had a stronger impact on retail sales than Michelle Obama, fashion's so-called $3billion woman.

(TAMARA ABRAHAM)

Star quality: Liz Hurley, Sophie Dahl and Jemima Khan arrive at the gala




source: dailymail

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger fits in purr-fectly as she joins U.S. X Factor judging panel at New Jersey auditions

By DAILY MAIL REPORTERS


What's up New Jersey? Nicole Scherzinger and her fellow judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and LA Reid take the stage for the first day of X Factor auditions


There were both new and old faces on stage when the X Factor U.S. judges kick-started the first day of auditions in New Jersey today.

Waving her arms in the air, newcomer Nicole Scherzinger cheered triumphantly as she took to the stage for the first time since getting promoted from co-host to judge on the hit talent show.

The former Pussycat Doll didn't waste any time getting front and centre as she waved to the crowd of fans there to welcome her and fellow judges, Simon Cowell, Paula Adbul and LA Reid.

As 32-year-old Scherzinger looked like the cat who got the cream lapping up the glory of her dream job, jilted judge Cheryl Cole, 27, languished at home in London licking her wounds.


Saula is back: American Idol judges and close friends Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul look happy to be reunited


American Idol alums Cowell and Abdul, dubbed 'Saula' were already continuing their cosy friendship as the Straight Up singer perched on the British mogul's lap with her arm around the neck.

It looked like the first day of auditions went smoothly despite the recent X Factor dramas that have kept fans riveted with constant changes in the judging panels both in the UK and Stateside.

In an interview recorded earlier this week on The Graham Norton Show in Britain, which airs on Friday, Scherzinger claimed that she only found out she would be replacing Cole on the panel of the U.S. show when she read it in the newspaper.


Co-workers: Scherzinger and Adbul flew to New York, from London and Los Angeles respectively, to begin working together side-by-side in the judges' hot seats


'I haven’t said this yet, but I think it’s official that I have been made a judge. It's an amazing opportunity,' she told Norton.

'I’m kind of finding out (what’s happening) along with everyone else. It’s kind of crazy to read about it in the newspaper first.'

As her new co-worker settled into her job, Abdul pledged her continual support for the woman she replaced on Twitter and promised fans that she would stay in touch with Cole after the pair 'forged a wonderful relationship.'


Paula Abdul posted this picture of herself and fellow X Factor U.S. judge Cheryl Cole on Twitter along with the message: 'Gotta tell you about Cheryl - 'The Fierce' is STRONG w/ this one! :) she's lovely! xoP'


Paula took to her Twitter page to praise Cheryl, who was unceremoniously fired from the U.S. TV talent show after failing to impress television executives.
She wrote: 'Cheryl is amazing. We have forged a wonderful friendship & have been & will continue to stay in touch.'
Paula then hinted that she knows what Cheryl has planned for the near future, adding: 'I'm excited for everyone to see and hear what she is about to do next.'
Cheryl and Paula worked together for just a week as the first X Factor USA auditions took place.
After Cheryl left the U.S. show, she was offered a place back on the panel of the British X Factor, but left it too long to decide and was replaced on that panel by N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos.


Heartfelt tweet: Abdul claimed her and Cole forged a 'wonderful friendship' during their brief time together working on the show and she pledged her loyalty to her short-lived side-kick on Twitter


Moving on: Abdul hints in a cryptic tweet that she may know what Cole's next career move is


Meanwhile, Simon Cowell spoke out earlier this week to apologise to Cheryl for the way the whole situation with the X Factor U.S. had been dealt with.

He said: 'A hundred per cent I have to take full responsibility, because I do have a lot of sway.

‘This has been a rough two weeks. The hardest thing to accept is that everyone has painted me as a monster because I embarrassed her. But the truth was I was protecting her.

‘I apologise that all this has become public and I understand the stress she is under, and I hate that. But we have all been under a lot of stress.

‘When things like this happen I look at the contestants on our shows, they must think this is crazy. All the attention is on us.

‘I am sorry this has caused so much anguish and embarrassment, but I stand by what I believe was the right intention. And I would say that to her face right now.’


X Factor USA Judges Arrive - Newark, NJ


source: dailymail

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger fits in purr-fectly as she joins U.S. X Factor judging panel at New Jersey auditions

By DAILY MAIL REPORTERS


What's up New Jersey? Nicole Scherzinger and her fellow judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and LA Reid take the stage for the first day of X Factor auditions


There were both new and old faces on stage when the X Factor U.S. judges kick-started the first day of auditions in New Jersey today.

Waving her arms in the air, newcomer Nicole Scherzinger cheered triumphantly as she took to the stage for the first time since getting promoted from co-host to judge on the hit talent show.

The former Pussycat Doll didn't waste any time getting front and centre as she waved to the crowd of fans there to welcome her and fellow judges, Simon Cowell, Paula Adbul and LA Reid.

As 32-year-old Scherzinger looked like the cat who got the cream lapping up the glory of her dream job, jilted judge Cheryl Cole, 27, languished at home in London licking her wounds.


Saula is back: American Idol judges and close friends Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul look happy to be reunited


American Idol alums Cowell and Abdul, dubbed 'Saula' were already continuing their cosy friendship as the Straight Up singer perched on the British mogul's lap with her arm around the neck.

It looked like the first day of auditions went smoothly despite the recent X Factor dramas that have kept fans riveted with constant changes in the judging panels both in the UK and Stateside.

In an interview recorded earlier this week on The Graham Norton Show in Britain, which airs on Friday, Scherzinger claimed that she only found out she would be replacing Cole on the panel of the U.S. show when she read it in the newspaper.


Co-workers: Scherzinger and Adbul flew to New York, from London and Los Angeles respectively, to begin working together side-by-side in the judges' hot seats


'I haven’t said this yet, but I think it’s official that I have been made a judge. It's an amazing opportunity,' she told Norton.

'I’m kind of finding out (what’s happening) along with everyone else. It’s kind of crazy to read about it in the newspaper first.'

As her new co-worker settled into her job, Abdul pledged her continual support for the woman she replaced on Twitter and promised fans that she would stay in touch with Cole after the pair 'forged a wonderful relationship.'


Paula Abdul posted this picture of herself and fellow X Factor U.S. judge Cheryl Cole on Twitter along with the message: 'Gotta tell you about Cheryl - 'The Fierce' is STRONG w/ this one! :) she's lovely! xoP'


Paula took to her Twitter page to praise Cheryl, who was unceremoniously fired from the U.S. TV talent show after failing to impress television executives.
She wrote: 'Cheryl is amazing. We have forged a wonderful friendship & have been & will continue to stay in touch.'
Paula then hinted that she knows what Cheryl has planned for the near future, adding: 'I'm excited for everyone to see and hear what she is about to do next.'
Cheryl and Paula worked together for just a week as the first X Factor USA auditions took place.
After Cheryl left the U.S. show, she was offered a place back on the panel of the British X Factor, but left it too long to decide and was replaced on that panel by N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos.


Heartfelt tweet: Abdul claimed her and Cole forged a 'wonderful friendship' during their brief time together working on the show and she pledged her loyalty to her short-lived side-kick on Twitter


Moving on: Abdul hints in a cryptic tweet that she may know what Cole's next career move is


Meanwhile, Simon Cowell spoke out earlier this week to apologise to Cheryl for the way the whole situation with the X Factor U.S. had been dealt with.

He said: 'A hundred per cent I have to take full responsibility, because I do have a lot of sway.

‘This has been a rough two weeks. The hardest thing to accept is that everyone has painted me as a monster because I embarrassed her. But the truth was I was protecting her.

‘I apologise that all this has become public and I understand the stress she is under, and I hate that. But we have all been under a lot of stress.

‘When things like this happen I look at the contestants on our shows, they must think this is crazy. All the attention is on us.

‘I am sorry this has caused so much anguish and embarrassment, but I stand by what I believe was the right intention. And I would say that to her face right now.’


X Factor USA Judges Arrive - Newark, NJ


source: dailymail