Simon Cowell has hit out at critics who claim that The X Factor has destroyed the music industry. In fact Simon Cowell says that he thinks the ITV show has ‘done a good job’ and ‘made music interesting again’.

“I don’t think shows like ours have saved the pop industry,” the music moghul told The Guardian, “but they have changed it, most certainly.

“They made music interesting again after Top of the Pops, and they also sent tons of people back into record shops, where they can doubtless buy records by other artists.”

Simon continued: “You know, I don’t get given handouts to do this, and I don’t force people to buy things. It just happens that The X Factor has done a good job.”