Simon Cowell has said that he would love to have Britney Spears on the 2009 series of American Idol. I can only surmise that he wants her for all the free publicity it will generate, because it certainly couldn’t be for her talent!

“I would love to see her mentor the contestants,” he said in a conference call to reporters.

“If she doesn’t want to do that, but wants to perform on the show – I would welcome that at any time,” Simon admitted.

“She would, literally, be first on the list, as far as I’m concerned in any capacity. (She) was a riot. I loved it.

“The buzz we had on our show (The X Factor) was extraordinary. And even with all that stuff that’s gone on with her the past two years, there was more excitement and interest in her than I’ve seen in anyone in years. She would be very, very welcome.”

Simon would also love to see Sir Paul McCartney and Beyonce on this years series.

“We try every year to get Paul McCartney on and, for whatever reason, he won’t come on,” he revealed.