The brunette beauty, who is reportedly struggling to save her relationship with Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton, broke down during the Boot Camp stage in Liverpool when a contestant performed a romantic love song.
A source said:
"She's had a tough week and an emotional song set off the tears. But she's
a professional. After a break, she got back to work."
Newly appointed judge Nicole tried to
hide her tears, but filming had to stop and it took three make-up artists to
reapply her smudged cosmetics.
The contestant in question also tugged at the
audience's heartstrings, and the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
The former Pussycat Doll, 34, is said to be
devastated after her long-term boyfriend Lewis was caught with 10 girls in his
hotel suite last week and thinks his actions were disrespectful and hurtful.
A source said: "Nicole's confiding in pals
that she thinks it might be time to call it a day. It's a long distance
relationship, he isn't ready to settle down and they're both working non-stop -
she's tired of fighting for it and feels it just isn't working."
Fellow judges Louis Walsh, Tulisa Contostavlos and Gary Barlow rallied around Nicole to console her.
