Former X Factor contestant Rowetta Satchell has claimed that her former mentor, Simon Cowell should be knighted.

“If he’s not a billionaire, he should be. But I think he’s giving something back and I think he should be a Sir. I do really think so, seriously,” she told The Guardian. “Services to TV, music, everything. He brought back something. Music was ageist until he came along. Pop Idol stopped at 25, you couldn’t form a girlband after 25 – there was nothing out there.

“Look at all the kids on Pop Idol, look at all the dance groups that have come out of Britain’s Got Talent – and all the dogs. Saturday nights – have you seen it when The X Factor’s not on? It’s boring.

“Do you not think he should be knighted? He will be one day surely, for all the money he gives to dogs. He gives a lot to charity, X Factor and American Idol raise a lot for charity.”

She added: “I love him, I do. I just hope he goes from strength to strength and I hope he does get his own TV channel with Sir Philip Green.”