Night leaves Cheryl Cole with Zzz Factor

Poor lamb. She's been working hard on X Factor — having to wade through the dross of auditions, and occasionally having to comfort a contestant who has been monstered by Simon Cowell.

1,000-watt smile: Cheryl Cole looks amazing outside The Ivy Club

So it's little wonder Cheryl Cole looked a exhausted last night.

The 26-year-old Girls Aloud singer and X Factor judge was out at The Ivy Club in Covent Garden and, like the professional she is, flashed her 1,000-watt smile at photographers as she left.

But, by the time she had climbed into the back of her waiting car, the strain was beginning to show. Trust us, Cheryl, nothing beats a good night's sleep.

Going, going...Cheryl looks exhausted as she sits in the back of her car last night

It was reported today that she has no plans to follow hubby Ashley Cole out to South Africa for the World Cup next year.

So perhaps she's looking forward to catching up on a bit of relaxing "Chez time" while he's away.