British 'X Factor' judge Cheryl Cole: 2010 the worst year of my life

Cheryl Cole says her divorce and battle with malaria contributed to making 2010 the worst year of her life.

Cole, a member of the group Girls Aloud, and a judge on the British television show "The X Factor," said her battle with malaria left her so ill she wished her life would end, The Sun reported.

Cole contracted malaria when she visited Tanzania this summer.

"It was horrendous," she said. "It was 12 weeks of pain, and I was really sick."

She said the illness left her near death.

"Being told that I had 24 hours to live -- I thought, if it's going to happen just hurry up. I was just too tired. I was too sick. You haven't got enough strength to feel fear, if that makes any sense. You're too weak, you're too physically drained. I could speak but I was just so tired."

Cole also lamented her divorce from British soccer player Ashley Cole.

"I never will understand why this has happened," the singer said. "Never. I just don't get it. Anybody that's been through a divorce, and I hope it's something people never have to experience, it's the worse thing in the world."

Cole said her music career is moving ahead in spite of her problems; she has a new album out next week.

"The music, that's where my heart is, anything to do with music," Cole said.