The object of this competition is not to be mean to the losers but to find a winner. The process makes you mean because you get frustrated. Kids turn up unrehearsed, wearing the wrong clothes, singing out of tune and you can either say, "Good job" and patronize them or tell them the truth, and sometimes the truth is perceived as mean.
Simon CowellI didn't realise how important stupid people are in your life, because you ask yourself, what made stupid people so stupid? What made them the way they are?
Simon CowellMy dad said to me, 'Work hard and be patient.' It was the best advice he ever gave me. You have to put the hours in.
Simon CowellNormally if I go to one of these things I'm in and out in five minutes, but at Pride of Britain I stay to the end. It's a fantastic show. But it's incredibly hard on the night when you meet all the kids and hear their stories. They do get to you.
Simon CowellI can't stand stage mothers. It doesn't work. You definitely feel that with the new generation of pop stars right now they've all managed to work it out for themselves. You have to have confidence in that. When you're young, you know your market better than I will. I love having young people on the show because I can learn from them.
Simon Cowell