Simon Cowell has denied repeated claims that shows like X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent have ruined the British music industry.

In fact Mr Cowell is sure that his TV talent shows have brought the British public back to music and caused a huge uplift in the industry.

He told NME: ‘The music industry was in a huge decline.

‘What I would argue in my defence is that shows like Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor have actually got people more interested in music again and are sending more people into record stores.

‘We haven’t seen this kind of uplift in years.’

However Mr Cowell, who’s acts have been dominating the charts for the last few months, also admitted that he actually isn’t that passionate about music and doesn’t think that it should be taken too seriously.

He asked if he had been interested in music growing up he said:

‘When I was growing up, I wasn’t really.

‘I guess our social lives were dictated by the records you bought, but I wasn’t someone who would study the lyrics and get that serious about it.

When asked if he was more passionate now about music, he replied:

‘Yes. Er, but like I say, in a way which I don’t take it too seriously because I think it’s enjoyment, it’s a luxury.

‘I’ve always said there is no such thing as good or bad taste. It’s true!

“I’m not sure who has the right to say that you have better taste than somebody else, because essentially what you’re doing is calling millions of people morons.”