Cowell: Britney is fascinating

Simon Cowell has admitted that he is "fascinated" by new X Factor judge Britney Spears.

The TV mogul is sitting alongside the Toxic singer on the panel of the US show and said he thinks she has a "mystique" about her, reports People.

Simon said: "It's quite interesting because when someone has done what she's done as she has with her career, and being such a public person, you kind of think she is going to be very confident, but in real life she's shy.

"There's kind of a mystique about her which I think is what kind of attracted me to her in the first place."

Simon has also been impressed with Britney's ability to pick out talent on the show - which also sees LA Reid and Demi Lovato judging wannabe singers - and said that she takes it "really seriously".

He added: "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, and she's got the ability to do this job really well."