Cheryl Cole wanted to befriend Britney

Cheryl Cole wanted to become a "big sister" to Britney Spears.

The 'Fight For this Love' singer thought she could help Britney - who suffered a public meltdown, culminating with her shaving her head in 2007 - become "normal" again, according to her ex-minder Craig Balkam.

A friend told how Craig had said: "She used to talk about Britney Spears. She kept saying she wanted to help Britney - that she thought she could become like a big sister to her and make her normal again after all her crazy behaviour."

Cheryl, 28, was not as big a fan of eccentric star Lady Gaga, however, because of her provocative stage antics.

The source added to the Sunday Mirror: "She had a thing about Lady Gaga too. She loves Lady Gaga's music but disapproved of her stage show. She's quite shy and not that comfortable with overly sexual behaviour. She's very proper and ladylike."

Cheryl had attempted to establish herself as a star in the US, but it backfired when she was sacked from the judging panel of talent show 'The X Factor' after only four days of filming earlier this year. She has since returned to the UK, where she has kept a low profile and reportedly reunited with her ex-husband, Ashley Cole.

Cheryl had confided in Craig that she had long felt like a "prisoner" and longed to turn her back on life in the public eye.

The source added: "Cheryl kept saying she wanted to get out of showbusiness. She said she had enough of being a prisoner in her hotel room - that was a phrase she used a lot.

"She said wanted to be a normal person again. But at the same time she was very keen to crack it in America - as though she was torn between the two."