Cheryl Cole and Derek Hough are “incredibly happy” together

The 'Fight for This Love' star and the 'Dancing with the Stars' hunk – who have been rumoured to be dating since the brunette beauty split from her husband, soccer player Ashley Cole, earlier in the year – make a "great couple", according to Cheryl's 'X Factor' colleague Brian Friedman.

He revealed: "I've been in touch with both Cheryl and Derek since they've been over in Los Angeles. I'm very close with them both. They're amazing people and they make a great couple.

"I thought they would make a good couple, and I'm so pleased to say they do. They're very, very cute together. Cheryl and Derek both seem incredibly happy right now – that's all I can say."

Brian – who is creative director on Simon Cowell's pop star search show – admitted not having the singer at the boot camp stage of the auditions while she recovered from malaria was "terrible".

He added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It was terrible not having her there for some of the auditions and boot camp. It was strange just having the male judges at boot camp too – which we've just finished filming.

"We know now though that Cheryl will definitely be back to film the judge's houses scenes, as will Dannii. I think they'll both be pleased with the groups that they've been given; I can't say who has what though!"