Simon Cowell revealed that they were considering dropping the age limit on The X Factor show, but didn’t want to end up with a load of Charlotte Church’s.

Cowell, 47, said: “I’m beginning to think whether we should be dropping the age now. But I don’t want six Charlotte Churches. I don’t want them on chat shows swearing at the age of 20 in a few years’ time.

“I can’t bear all that. In fact, I’m almost thinking about sending each of this year’s contestants a poster of Charlotte Church with a big cross on it – ‘Don’t go there!’”

The music mogul has also blasted Church for abandoning her pop career to present a Channel 4 chat show.

Cowell, famously dubbed ‘Mr Nasty’ because of his cruel jibes, insists the ‘Crazy Chick’ singer has wasted her talent.

She said: “This was a girl who could have been a massive operatic star for the next few years, because she’s really talented.

“To me, it appears as if she’s thrown it all away for this different career.