The talent show Mr Nasty also reckons he would have been beaten up by now if it wasn’t for his security guard.

Simon told the Radio Times that hopefuls usually take rejection badly. "Normally, you’ll get, ’Thanks for all your support, judges’, and the second they’re out of earshot they go completely ballistic," he said.

"And there’s me sometimes locked in my dressing room, knowing there are some very angry family members in the corridor. It’s not a great place to be. I wait until the coast is clear and then I get out of there. Because there’s nothing worse than when you’ve got a mother shouting at you.

"I get collared sometimes as if it’s my fault. They’re never particularly happy at that point. Or you get the contestants themselves, which is very embarrassing. Sometimes they’ll lay into you."

Referring to the X Factor security guard, he added: "Tony’s there mainly as a deterrent. But I’m absolutely sure that if Tony hadn’t been on the road with us, I would have been punched in the mouth."

X Factor returns to ITV1 on August 18 with new judge Dannii Minogue - who Simon described as "a little Rottweiler".

Louis Walsh has also been brought back, months after he was dumped as a judge.

Simon ’to produce singing-contest movie’ - Aug 2 2007
Simon Cowell is to produce a movie set behind the scenes of a TV singing competition akin to American Idol and X Factor, it was reported today.

The project, tentatively titled Star Struck, was inspired by Alan Parker’s 1980 film Fame and will follow 10 contestants trying to make it to the top.

The leads in the film, who will play participants in the competition, will be cast through US auditions similar to those used on the reality shows.

Simon told Hollywood Reporter: "The story is told through the eyes of those 10 contestants.

"We want it to be the musical version of Rocky - an underdog story, a feel-good film."

He added: "Fame was all about young people wanting to be famous, and in order to do that, they enrolled in a drama school.

"The difference 25 years later is that everyone who wants to be famous today signs up for American Idol."

Simon said casting unknowns for the lead roles was crucial for the film’s authenticity.

"To enjoy the film, you’ve got to watch the actors and believe that they are contestants on a reality show," he told the showbiz website.

He added that the film will open with clips from the auditions and he will also attend the cast auditions.

It will be written by Briton Jonathan Harvey, who has followed the music producer around for the past two years.


Simon’s a hit on rich list - July 23 2007
Simon Cowell is used to being behind chart-toppers, but now he’s managed to score a number two spot himself. Mr Nasty has been named the second highest paid TV star in the US, with a £22.5 million salary.

Simon’s American Idol show is the most-watched in the country, with audiences of 30 million viewers.

He also produces and presents America’s Got Talent, which also scores highly in the ratings war.