X Factor’s Judges Houses descended into pandemonium at the sound of loud gunfire when they waited for Cheryl’s imminent arrival.
Security guards flocked to Simon Cowell’s £10 million mansion in Nice, South of France, to discover the panic was caused by a farmer shooting rabbits in a field.
Detailing the event, an insider told MailOnline: ‘There was a lot of panic among the contestants. We didn’t know where the gunshots were coming from.
‘There was a lot of panic among the contestants’: A farmer shooting rabbits sparked pandemonium at Simon Cowell’s £10 million house in the South of France as they filmed X Factor‘s Judges Houses (Simon and Cheryl)
‘We couldn’t see where the shots were being fired.’
Contestants were frozen with fear at the sound of the shooting. They had been waiting for new mum Cheryl to arrive when the dramatic scene began to unfold.
The songstress – who first appeared on the show in 2008 – was due to take on the role of guest judge during the X Factor Judge’s House special episode.
It was a big deal as the music mogul had been waiting five years to recruit the Fight For This Love hitmaker to star in the same series as Nicole Scherzinger.
The insider divulged: ‘At the time of the incident, Cheryl wasn’t there.’
Security was on high alert as a result of the terror threat in France.
In spite of the contestants’ worst fears, it turned out to be a farmer shooting rabbits.
The insider explained: ‘It turned out to be a farmer shooting rabbits in a nearby field.
Shock: Contestants were frozen with terror at the sound of the shooting
‘There was high security because of the terror threat level in France. Security did an excellent job dealing with the situation.
‘But no one was in any danger.’
The incident unfolded after Cheryl officially confirmed her return to the X Factor when she posed for an official picture alongside the music mogul himself.
It almost marks a decade since her first appearance as a judge on the talent show.
She initially starred as an X Factor judge 2008, before first leaving the show in 2011. Cheryl then returned for series 11 and 12 of the show in 2014 and 2015, last appearing on the judging panel with Simon, Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora.
Revealed: They had been waiting for new mum Cheryl to arrive when the dramatic scene began to unfold
The mother-of-one first sparked rumours she would be making a comeback after her hairdresser shared a photograph of what appeared to be her in his chair.
Her return as a mentor in the Judge’s Houses follows a two year hiatus from the show, and her recent reemergence to the spotlight following the birth of baby Bear with boyfriend Liam Payne, 24, in March.
Dressed in a pair of black palazzo pants embellished with gold buttons, the slender former Girls Aloud star reveals her tiny waist in a form-fitting bustier just six months after giving birth.
Motherhood has clearly done wonders for Cheryl, despite her claim that her beauty regime ahs ‘gone out of the window’ since her baby arrived.
With her brunette tresses in long sweeping waves and minimal make-up, the pretty 34-year-old shows off her dazzling smile as she cosies up to pal Simon at his Chateau Diter, located just outside Cannes and boasting two helipads.
Simon looks thrilled to have his golden girl back, revealing a generous amount of chest hair in his open white shirt and (presumably high waist) jeans in the snap.
Set against the backdrop of his stunning provincial villa with an array of grand pillars setting the foreground for the lush greenery bathed in dusky sunlight, the pair’s joint snap comes ahead of the judge’s houses episode at the end of the month.
Whispers: Earlier on Friday she sent the rumour mill a-whir with talk she was at the mogul’s luxury mansion after her hairdresser shared a snap of her in what appeared to be his chair
Pulling out the stops: Simon Cowell, 57, is going all out for Cheryl’s X Factor return and has hired a £10million plush mansion in the South of France for his Judges’ Houses round
Simon’s property boasts a swimming pool and an expansive gardens, along with expansive bedrooms and luxury bathrooms to be used at the leisure of its guests.
Fans may recognise the lavish mansion as it had featured in Sky Atlantic series Riviera that starred actress Julia Stiles.
Along with its idyllic location, Chateau Diter comes complete with a grand staircase and chandelier lighting, a huge dining room and several spacious rooms, equipped with traditional furniture, for guests to relax in.
Comeback: Cheryl (pictured above on The X Factor in 2015) will rejoin Simon on the show to help him decide between his acts for Judges’ Houses
It certainly oozes star power and will no doubt give this year’s X Factor hopefuls, mentored by Simon, a taste of the high life that comes with being a fully fledged pop star.
It’s claimed Louis Walsh will whisk his acts off to Istanbul, where he will be joined by Grace Kelly singer Mika, and Nicole will rely on guidance from rapper Stormzy on her hopefuls in South Africa.
Sharon Osbourne is believed to have been flanked by her children Kelly and Jack in San Francisco.
Luxury: The stunning property is located just outside of Cannes and boasts two helipads, an idyllic pool and huge gardens
Stunning: Complete with expansive bedrooms and luxury bathrooms to be used at the leisure of its guests, it also features a huge staircase and chandelier lighting throughout
Familiar? Fans may recognise the lavish mansion as it had featured in Sky Atlantic series Riviera that starred actress Julia Stiles
Fuming: Cheryl’s re-addition to The X Factor was confirmed last month in September, with the news thought to have left Simon’s former flame and usual choice of guest mentor Sinitta ‘furious’
No stranger! Cheryl has previously starred as a judge alongside Simon on The X Factor in several series – her last being 2015 where Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora had joined her on the panel
Stepping back into the limelight: A source close to Cowell said of Cheryl’s return: ‘For Cheryl, this felt like the right way for her to make a return to the limelight after having Bear’