Simon Cowell is adamant he won't let his The X Factor co-star Cheryl Cole return to work until she is fully fit - even though the malaria-stricken talent show judge is "on the mend" and "really looking forward" to resuming her place on the panel.
The Girls Aloud star was struck down with the tropical disease earlier this month (Jul10) after reportedly contracting the mosquito-borne illness during a recent trip to Tanzania.
She has cancelled all of her work commitments for the foreseeable future, including her judging duties on Cowell's British talent contest.
And although Cowell admits Cole is recovering, he's determined to make sure she is fit and well before she heads back to the show.
He tells Britain's GMTV, "I had a few text messages from her over the last few days. Listen, it was serious. She was ill.
"We didn't realise how ill but judging by the text messages I've had, she's definitely looking forward to coming back to work. I think our job is to make sure she sure doesn't come back too quick (sic) because I think she is bored out of her mind and going crazy.
"The worst is over. The texts are getting increasingly feisty so she is on the mend."