Simon Cowell is one of Britain's best-known A&R executive, scouting talent for the music business through TV reality show. He shot to fame in 2001 when
he was asked to be a judge on a new ITV show Pop Idol.
The WIll Young/Gareth Gates finale in 2001 was one of the most watched TV episodes of all time, and Simon soon left to launch the show in America, with the title
American Idol.
Simon became known for his outspoken commentary towards contestants, including the phrase "I don't mean to be rude but..."
In 2004 Simon used his new found fame to launch his own show,
The X Factor, with ITV. With Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, the show aired in 2004 and was
an instant success. After seven successful years Simon decided to leave the UK version to launch the show in America. He took with him British singer and
X Factor judge Cheryl Cole but he soon found himself being criticised after he abruptly let Cheryl go and replaced her with Nicole Scherzinger.
CHERYL ADMITS SIMON COWELL WAS RIGHT "TO GET RID OF ME"
In 2014, after three years away from the British version of
The X Factor,
Simon and Cheryl returned for the 11th series to great fanfare and interest.
As well as athe music business Simon has also proudced shows including
Red or Black? presented by Ant and Dec, and the cookery show
Food Glorious Food. In 2014
Simon became a father for the first time, after his partner Lauren Silverman gave birth to a little boy, Eric.