London, Dec 14 : Simon Cowell had to apologise to Beyonce Knowles for branding her `not sexy' before she could agree to be the special guest on `X Factor' finale.

In an astonishing public tirade against the singer, Cowell described her as "not sexy".

He said: "I find the whole Beyoncé thing really mystifying. She's not sexy, she hasn't got a great body and she's not a great singer."

The extraordinary statement in Esquire magazine three years ago prompted the singer's tough producer father, Matthew Knowles, to say: "Simon wouldn't know a hit song, image or talent if it hit him in the face."

London, Dec 14 : Music mogul Simon Cowell is contemplating quitting `X Factor' after the next series.

The X Factor has admitted that it was exhausting to do the show plus `American Idol' and `Britain's Got Talent'.

"It looks like I'm only going to be doing it until 2010. I've really felt it this year. When you do three shows a year it's tiring and something's got to give," News of the World quoted him, as saying.

"I'm contracted to do one more series and then I'll make a decision. I'll see how I feel in the New Year," he added.

He also hinted fellow judge Dannii Minogue may choose to walk after this series-and hailed Cheryl as "this year's real winner".

London, Dec 12 : Dannii Minogue has been snubbed by X factor supreme Simon Cowell as he refused to confirm her future on the show.

When the Aussie singer was asked if she would return as a judge next year, she said: “I don’t know. Ask Simon”, reports the Mirror.

However, Cowell looked upwards and – in an obvious attempt to avoid answering – said: “Has anyone looked at the ceiling?”

Later, Simon said: “If you had asked me this same thing last year about Sharon Osbourne I would have said I’m assuming it’s going to be the same panel.

London, Dec 3 : Simon Cowell has warned the paparazzi from exceeding their limit, after a journalist planted a bugging device underneath his car to monitor his movements.

After the bugger was planted underneath Cowell’s car, he became suspicious that his movements were being monitored, later the security exposed a hi-tech spy device attached to the undercarriage of his Bentley Continental.

Although Cowell did not involve police in the matter, his lawyers have demanded the paparazzi not to exceed their limit and to refrain from unlawful attempts.

LONDON, Dec. 2 - The law firm of Carter-Ruck has sent a letter to several British newspapers warning them not to harass its client, television personality Simon Cowell.

Cowell is a judge on the U. K talent show "The X Factor," as well as on the U. S. singing competition series "American Idol."

Washington, December 2: Simon Cowell joked that Britney Spears had been ‘in awe of’ him after the singer looked dumbstruck on seeing the ‘X-Factor’ judge backstage before the performance.

Britney had thrilled the reality show viewers with a string of comeback performances in what was her first UK appearance in four years.

The pop diva, out on a promotional tour for the release of her new album, ‘Circus’, is said to have fixed her gaze on the TV producer.