X-Factor is a new take on the Pop Idol phenomenon and although Cowell originally asked Mel B to be a judge on the talent show, he has since expressed fears that she may use it as a platform to relaunch her pop career (we’re hearing you on that one Simon). The pop mogul has decided instead to approach Sharon Osbourne, who we expect will even manage to make him look like a pussy cat.

Simon didn’t swear! - April 04
Simon Cowell is insisting that a gesture he made to fellow American Idol Paula Abdul was ’innocent, not obscene’.

In the middle of a recent broadcast Simon put his middle finger to the side of his face, bringing about speculation that he had ’flipped the bird’ at the singing judge. But no.

"I certainly would never make a gesture like that toward Paula or on national television," Cowell said. "Sometimes I lean on my index finger. Sometimes a different finger. Sometimes two at the same time, or, God help me, even the whole hand. I never even thought about it until now."

Yet despite this finger furore, Simon stayed on top of sarcastic form as ever, calling the performance of one hopeful "nauseating."

Simon criticizes MPs being too PC - March 04
Simon apparently sees himself as the "saviour of British politics" and has criticised MPs for trying to impose political correctness.

Simon told the Daily Mirror "You can’t say this, you can’t say that. That’s a little bit like saying. ’You’re not allowed to speak your mind in public anymore.’"

He added: "What frustrates me even more is when you see a politician on a TV show and somebody says, ’Can I have a yes or a no’ and they refuse to answer. And these are the people who you’ve paid to do this job and they haven’t even got the manners to answer. It’s patronising."

You tell ’em, Simon...

Simon Cowell is a ’joke’ - 15/12/03
So says Andy Taylor from Duran Duran, and he has also accused him of helping to ruin the British music industry.

Guitarist Andy said "If the world thinks Simon Cowell and Nicky Chapman are representative of people in the music industry, they’re wrong, Simon Cowell is the guy that discovered Sinitta. I rest my case. It’s a joke."

Andy went on to say that he has nothing bad to say about any of the artists on the Pop Idol shows as it’s not their fault. "But Gareth Gates probably could have been George Michael if he had been handled properly. He’s got a good voice and a great look. But what do they do? They make him sing Unchained Melody. It’s not a good thing."

Simon Says. - 03/11/03
.That a girl will win Pop Idol this year .

Simon has spoken, everyone, which doesn’t now look too hopeful for any boys left in the competition - even though the result is a public vote Simon usually knows what is going on.

He said ’You have to go with your gut reaction and this year I think a girl may win. Last year, after seeing the first show, it was obvious it was Will or Gareth’

Speaking of the Pop Idols themselves - Simon said rather curiously ’We have to keep Will and Gareth successful so that people know Pop Idol is a prize worth winning and then you hope we will find a break-out international star. That will happen.’