A shekara ta 2008, Cheryl ya maye gurbin Sharon Osbourne a matsayin alƙali na biyar na The X Factor tare da mahalicci Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue da Louis Walsh. An ba ta rukunin 'yan mata (wanda ya ƙunshi mata masu takara masu shekaru 16 zuwa 25) kuma daga baya ya ƙare a matsayin alƙali mai nasara lokacin da Alexandra Burke ta zama mai nasara na jerin biyar a ranar 13 ga Disamba. Ta dawo don jerin shida a shekara ta 2009 kuma an ba ta rukunin (wanda ya ƙunshi maza masu takara masu shekaru 16 zuwa 25). Ta kasance alƙali mai nasara a shekara ta biyu a jere lokacin da Joe McElderry ya lashe ranar 13 ga Disamba.
"Ku Yi Yaƙi don Wannan Ƙauna"