Cowell rules out X Factor return

Simon Cowell has dashed the hopes of fans who want to see him back on The X Factor.

The judge and TV mogul is reported to have ruled out any return to the UK show while at the Britain's Got Talent auditions in Cardiff.

Asked if he would be on the next series of The X Factor, which last year suffered a slide in ratings, The Sun quoted a source as saying said that "Simon shook his head" adding: "People weren't happy."

Simon, who is a judge on the US X Factor, is reported to want to change the judging panel with Tulisa Contostavlos set to go and Sharon Osbourne to return.

The music mogul was said to be "ruthless" in the Britain's Got Talent try-outs, dismissing the first 10 acts in Cardiff.

A source said: "He's shaking up X Factor and that's spilling over into BGT.

"Simon is happy to show the rubbish acts getting a pasting in the audition rounds. But for the live finals he's looking for the seriously unique and astonishing.

"Yesterday's first auditions show saw him take a very no-nonsense approach."