Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has discovered an unusual talent in her fellow X Factor judge Rita Ora.

The former Girls Aloud singer, who has reprised her role on the judging panel of the ITV show alongside Ora, Simon Cowell and Nick Grimshaw, said viewers will get to see a more light-hearted side to the Poison songstress.

X Factor judges Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Rita Ora
X Factor judges Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Rita Ora (SYCO/Thames TV)

“Rita is the funniest person when it comes to metaphors. I’ve never heard anyone express the way she feels through metaphors the way Rita does,” said the 32-year-old star.

“It’s a unique quality, it’s very charming and I dare say, I’m going to use some of them in the future,” she added.

Cheryl, who returned to the ITV show in 2014 alongside Simon, Melanie Brown and Louis Walsh, said there is no rivalry between her and Rita, who was previously a coach on BBC’s The Voice.

“Rita’s very fun. It’s really good,” she said of their friendship.

“She’s really fun to work with, she listens. She’s enjoying being with another female because she didn’t get that experience on that spinning chair show so we’re having fun together. She’s a good girl.”

Cheryl has taken advantage of her new-found responsibilities as an executive producer on The X Factor, by introducing new format changes that enable audiences to be more involved in the whole process.

Fans will get to choose which categories each judge will mentor, while the judges’ houses round will be broadcast live this year’s series, which begins on ITV on Saturday, August 29. She claims it was also her idea to bring Nick in as a judge.

“I think it’s going to be really interesting, really fun and really good to get people on board and involved. They’re going to choose our categories too, so it’s going to be really interesting to see people invested from that early on,” she said, adding: “Being the new exec producer, that was one of my new decisions.”

The Crazy, Stupid Love singer revealed she is excited about the live aspect of the judges’ houses, saying: “I think in a way it’s good, because you don’t have to ponder once you’ve made your decision.

“Sometimes you make it and then question yourself for ages. Even when you’re going home, you’re like, ‘Did I make the right decision?’ (Now) as soon as you make your choice, it’s out there, it’s live. I’ll be watching the Twitter feed to see what everybody else’s opinion is.”

Cheryl also hinted that the winner’s single would be a “cover that’s unexpected”, rather than an original song.