One Direction star Liam Payne says he would love to see her girlfriend and singer Cheryl to end maternity leave and go back to the talent based show "The X Factor".

TV mogul Simon Cowell earlier said that he "isn't ruling out" a permanent return to "The X Factor" for Cheryl, after being reunited with her for this year's Judges' Houses part of the competition.

"Cheryl and Simon spoke about her going back next year. Obviously Simon is desperate to get her back. Cheryl and Simon have such a lovely relationship," Payne told thesun.co.uk.

Cheryl has been on a break from showbiz since welcoming her and Payne's son Bear in March earlier this year.

"We're all edging for her to get back to work, it's just finding the right time and the right way to do things.

"This is the first time she's been away from the industry for a long period of time in her whole career and sometimes that's a beautiful thing to have. She's got the opportunity to choose exactly what she wants to do and I think it's great," he added.