You Can Flirt If Single – Simon Cowell

We’ve definitely put girls through because they are cute, in the same way the girls put guys through – it’s just the way of the world.”

He admitted he’d had no qualms about the fallout from Tom Bower’s explosive biography, serialised by The Sun in April, which revealed he’d bedded Dannii Minogue.

He said: “I’ve been a naughty boy – that’s why I got into the music business. I’ve had my fair share, nothing too bad.”

He said he still loved being a world-famous star as it helped boost ratings for his programmes.

But he added: “I’m immensely flattered because it means people watch the shows. Without the shows being popular no one would know who I am!”

He also admitted he was put out at coming second to Hitler in a poll of most recognisable faces, saying: “Part of me was kind of annoyed but that to me put it into perspective – this is kind of a weird life.”

Simon also spoke warmly of his controversial new US X Factor signing, Britney Spears.

He said: “There’s a kind of a mystique about her. She’s not on the show to be ‘Britney Spears on a TV show’, she’s actually there to prove to the world there’s more to her.

“She wants to watch the stuff back to know what she’s done well and what she can improve on. She’s not just taking a cheque.