The 27-year-old singer - who was sensationally sacked from the US version of `The X Factor` after working on the show for just two weeks - is now keen to take some time off as she does not intend to return to the UK version of the musical talent programme.

A source said: "Cheryl has admitted she`s not thinking straight right now and everything is a blur.

"She hasn`t stopped working for the past nine years - ever since Girls Aloud started. She`s now looking at this as the perfect opportunity to just stop for a bit and take time out.

"She`s going to sit back, take stock of her career and decide what to do next."

Cheryl - who is thought to have been replaced on the judging panel, also containing Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul, by Nicole Scherzinger - reportedly did not want to return to the UK version of `The X Factor` because she is feeling "fragile" about the sacking.

A source added to The Sun newspaper: "She just isn`t in the right state of mind at the moment to go headfirst into a new show.

"She`s all over the place, emotionally she`s very fragile. Starting filming on Wednesday would be far too soon."

She has also become "un-contactable" after the event, with TV executives left in the dark about whether or not she wanted a job in the UK.

An insider told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Cheryl will not be returning to the British `X Factor`. People have been trying to speak to her and persuade her this would be a good idea, but she?s been un-contactable.

"She hasn`t returned phone calls. And you can`t exactly negotiate with someone who won`t even speak to you."
sections: Celebrities