Cheryl Cole is refusing to see her Girls Aloud bandmates while she recovers from malaria

The singer has banned her closest pals in the group, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts, from visiting her in hospital because she doesn't want them to see her so ill.

The weak star will only allow her mother Joan Callaghan and Derek Hough – who she is rumoured to be dating - to sit by her bedside as she recovers from the potentially fatal tropical disease.

A source said: "Cheryl doesn't want people to see her as she is."

After being rushed to a London hospital two weeks ago, the 27-year-old pop star has now been moved the tropical diseases ward to her own private room, and is said to be much happier.

The source added to The Sun newspaper: "She was delighted to get some privacy. She is still extremely frail and drifting in and out of sleep, but she has shown great signs of improvement."

Cheryl is likely to remain in hospital under observation until the end of July - but Simon Cowell says she wants to be back on the British version of his pop star search show 'The X Factor' for the boot camp stage.

He said last night (13.07.10): "I had a text from her. She says she is better and feeling perky.

"She does want to come back to work but I need to talk to her about when that's going to be."

Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, pop star Katy Perry and Cheryl's bandmate Kimberley have been shortlisted to cover her role during the boot camp auditions if she isn't well enough to take part.

Cheryl – who has also had to cancel her V Festival performance on August 21 - is believed to have contracted malaria while holidaying with 'Dancing with the Stars' dancer Derek, 25, in Tanzania.