Cheryl Cole wants to launch a solo career. The Girls Aloud - who recently worked without bandmates Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts, Sarah Harding and Nadine Coyle on U.K. TV talent show "The X Factor" - star is keen to make a record on her own, but will only do it with the permission of the rest of the group.

When asked if the other members were worried she would quit the band to go solo, she said: "That's a horrible thing to think."

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow serenaded Cheryl Cole over the phone. The couple had called each member of Girls Aloud - Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh, Nicola Roberts and Sarah Harding - individually to convince them to support Chris' band Coldplay.

But when it came to persuading "The X Factor" judge Cheryl, the pair decided they needed to make an extra-special effort and sang a rendition of the girl group's hit "Sound Of The Underground."

Nicola Roberts has fled her $750,000 home because it could collapse at any moment.

The Girls Aloud star - who bought the house in Kent, England, last year - is staying at London's exclusive Mayfair Hotel after surveyors deemed her abode dangerous.

Sarah Harding says Girls Aloud only have "one or two albums" left before they split. The 26-year-old singer admits the band - made up of Sarah, Cheryl Cole, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberly Walsh - have accepted their chart success can't last forever.

When asked how much longer the group will stay together, Sarah replied: "There are still one or two more albums in us."

Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts has celebrated her 23rd birthday with a party in London.

Nicola was joined by her bandmates - Sarah Harding, Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh - for the party in London's Wellington Club on Saturday, although Cheryl left the party early after nursing a single cocktail for two hours.

Nicola Roberts is carrying a skull around to ward off men.

The Girls Aloud singer says the creepy head on a stick - which has a tuft of red hair to match hers - helps frighten off potentially troublesome boyfriends.