Cowell says Cole is 'on the mend'

LONDON, July 14 (UPI) -- Simon Cowell says his fellow British television personality Cheryl Cole is recovering well after being diagnosed last week with malaria.

Cole, 27, is a member of the music group Girls Aloud, as well as a judge on the talent competition series "The X Factor," alongside Cowell. She also recently toured as a solo act supporting the Black Eyed Peas.

She returned from a vacation in Tanzania with her friend, dancer Derek Hough, and canceled all of her work engagements last week after falling ill. Her representative later confirmed she had been diagnosed with malaria.

"I had a text from her yesterday," the BBC quoted Cowell as saying Tuesday. "She is on the mend and looking forward to coming back to work."

The BBC said Cole left the intensive care unit of a London hospital last Friday and was transferred to a private clinic.