By Georgina Littlejohn


Ready to return to work, Kelly? Miss Rowland stepped out in LA for the first time since missing last weekend's X Factor due to illness


She missed last weekend's live X Factor show because of an 'extremely rare' illness, leaving Alexandra Burke to step into her place as mentor and judge.

And with reports that show boss Simon Cowell is demanding she returns to the UK within the next 48 hours to continue her X Factor duties, Kelly Rowland has surfaced for the first time since she announced she was too sick to fly to London.

The singer was snapped in Los Angeles yesterday looking surprisingly well after declaring that she had been put on a drip and was unable to eat or drink.


Wearing a green velour tracksuit, Rowland clutched a drink in her hand and stuck close to her friend as they left an appointment in Beverly Hills.

The 30-year-old kept her face covered with the hood from her jacket, a scarf round her head and large dark sunglasses, but she managed a faint smile for the cameras as she headed to her car.

Going home to pack for London? Kelly managed a faint smile as she grabbed her friend's bag as dashed away from the cameras


Her friend carried a plastic bag from organic restaurant Greenleaf, which was probably fully of delicious and healthy things to help Kelly make a speedy recovery.

Yesterday, it was reported that Cowell has given the former Destiny's Child singer a 48-hour ultimatum to confirm whether she will return to X Factor and keep her place on the judging panel.

Misha and Janet are waiting! Kelly heads back to her car and hopefully soon to London to prepare for this weekend


The singer has insisted that wants to retain her position on the show, but needs to consult her doctor to see if she is well enough to fly, as she has been grounded in the US due to a severe throat infection.

But going on these pictures, she looked well enough to be out and about in Los Angeles, so no doubt her remaining acts - Misha B and Janet Devlin - will be hoping she will return this week to coach them for the upcoming live shows.

A show insider told The People last night: 'Kelly has been told it’s time to make her mind up. Everyone is supportive of the fact she is ill but other bosses are annoyed at the situation.'

Quick trip home: Kelly looked happy and healthy as she jetted into LA for a brief trip last week - but she succumbed to illness and was forced to stay


'She doesn’t want to quit. She is adamant that she isn’t worried about the row she had with Tulisa and wants to return but she has to give the ­producers her word – and fast.'

Kelly has said that rows with fellow judge Tulisa Contostavlos are making her life 'a living hell' and is upset about the way Tulisa is ­portraying her in the press and the way she’s creating an awful atmosphere backstage.

When she pulled out of last weekend's show, a statement from her people read: 'Kelly is devastated she won't be here for this weekend's show. She is extremely ill with a viral throat infection and her doctors aren't permitting her to fly.'

Replacement: Alexandra Burke was brought in to step into Kelly's place on the judging panel last weekend


And Kelly told the Sun she was suffering from an 'extremely rare' illness, and has been in tears about her situation all week.

'I'm so sick - I have no idea what is wrong with me, but I have the worst sore throat. It got so bad that I stopped eating and drinking and got so dehydrated the doctor put me on a drip.

'Even now I can't swallow anything - not even my own saliva. The doctors don't even really know what's wrong, either. They say whatever I have is extremely rare.'


Living hell: Kelly claimed that she was finding it hard to work with fellow judge Tulisa Contostavlos



source:dailymail