He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and American Idol. As a judge, Cowell is known for his blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their abilities. He was most recently featured on the seventh series of The X Factor and the fifth series of Britain’s Got Talent. Cowell’s paternal grandparents, Joseph Cowell and Esther Malinsky, were English Jews, and his maternal grandfather was Scottish. Michael is the oldest, followed by John, Tony, Simon and Nicholas respectively. He passed in English Language and Literature and then attended Windsor Technical College where he gained another GCE in Sociology. At the age of 17, he dated model Paula Hamilton. Cowell’s father’s connections originally got him rehired as the assistant to an A&R man.

Simon Cowell late for X Factor Simon Cowell turned up late to the US ‘X Factor’ auditions today and blamed a helicopter falling on his car. Simon Cowell arrived late to the US ‘X Fa… [link]