Tuesday, 8 September 2009

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What’s wrong with Simon Cowell?

Mr Nasty's attitude on The X Factor is irritating Cheryl Cole

Simon Cowell is already bored with the 6th series of The X Factor

TV Addict blog

The X Factor: The good, the bad and the tone deaf

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Simon Cowell isn’t known for his patience – and that’s usually part of his brutal ‘charm’. But as the auditions phase continues on The X Factor, the judge hasn’t succeeded in hiding his lack of enthusiasm for the sixth series.

The 49-year-old media mogul has already admitted growing bored of the old-style audition process, but now his growing indifference towards the show is sparking rows and breeding frustration among fellow judges.

A source says: Cheryl [Cole] thinks Simon wants to go because he’s preoccupied with other, more lucrative, projects. And she’s not the only one who thinks that.'

Viewers of ITV2’s The Xtra Factor will have seen hosts Holly Willoughby and Dermot O’Leary ribbing Simon about his love of money. But behind the good-natured teasing, Simon’s attitude is causing friction.

The source adds: ‘The other day, he snapped at one of the producers in a meeting when he was asked a question and it became apparent he hadn’t been listening.

'Cheryl told him to sharpen up. She said if he didn’t want to put in the hours on his own TV show he should reconsider his future as a judge. She gave him a proper mum’s telling off – even Louis was stunned into silence.’

It is true that Simon has been focusing his energies on other projects, including setting up a TV production and talent management company with tycoon Philip Green.

Simon confessed only weeks into the show that boredom had already taken hold. ‘After two hours I thought: “I can’t do this any more,”’ he said. ‘I thought: “The show’s boring, stale and not going anywhere. If we don’t change the format, I don’t want to do it.”’

See the full story about Simon Cowell in Now magazine dated 14 September 2009 - out now!

Danielle Gusmaroli