I don”t know how Cheryl Cole coped with Ashley split, says Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell has praised pal Cheryl Cole for her strength as she divorced love-rat hubby Ashley.

Simon said he had been in constant touch with the star, who was forced to pull out of the X Factor auditions after contracting malaria during a trip to Tanzania.

“We have spoken a lot, and now she has got a sense of perspective on life,” the Sun quoted him as saying.

“In a weird way this has helped manage her life better. I think she is going to appreciate what she has and enjoy it more.

“I am not even putting the personal stuff into this as well. You have to deal with that and I don”t know how she coped with that to be honest,” he added.