Simon Cowell claims to have been deeply hurt by Sharon Osbourne’s constant sniping and fighting in last year’s X Factor series. He is convinced that she used the perceived rivalry between them to advance her own career and that they actually could have had a good relationship had it not been for her behaviour.

Cowell says, “Max (Clifford his publicist) always said it was very good for the show.

“But there were times I needed help in dealing with her, particularly when she launched a prolonged attack on me that lasted about four weeks.

“After the third week, I told Max we had to put a stop to it and do something publicly in my defence. But he said, ‘Ignore it, drop it.’ He was right.

“I asked myself, ‘Are her accusations life threatening?’ They weren’t. ‘Was the whole thing designed to p**s me off?’ One hundred per cent.

“I think she was using me to get herself publicity. It was a shame because I thought we had a good relationship.”