He has built an empire discovering global superstars and turning unknown hopefuls into household names.
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But now Simon Cowell has branded himself ‘the most talentless person in the world’ as insiders say his latest bid to create the next One Direction has collapsed into a ‘catastrophe.’
The 66-year-old music mogul made the extraordinary confession during a Q&A at London’s Ham Yard Hotel, held following a special screening ahead of the new series of Britain’s Got Talent, when he was asked what his talent would be if he were auditioning for the show himself.
‘I was lucky actually, very early on, I realised honestly I have no talent whatsoever,’ he said. ‘You know when I see this stuff it's like I couldn’t do that.
‘Actually being the most talentless person in the world.’
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It comes after music industry figures revealed his ambitious Netflix project The Next Act – which followed Simon’s quest to build a new boyband five years after the closure of his Syco label – failed to deliver.
Simon Cowell has called himself 'talentless' ahead of the launch of the latest Britain's Got Talent as his bid to find the new One Direction is branded a 'catastrophe'
Members of boyband December 10, from left, Hendrik Christofferson, Cruz Lee-Ojo, John Fadare, Nicolas Alves, Josh Oliver, Danny Bretherton and Sean Hayden
Cowell, 66, 'installed' a billboard in London as he launched his UK and Ireland search for the next 'boyband sensation' two years ago which has since been branded a 'catastrophe'
In familiar fashion, Cowell staged auditions across the UK and Ireland to find the next big pop phenomenon, eventually selecting seven singers – Cruz Lee-Ojo, Danny Bretherton, Hendrik Christoffersen, John Fadare, Josh Olliver, Nicolas Alves and Sean Hayden – to form the group December 10, named after the show’s launch date.
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The band released their debut single Run My Way shortly afterwards, but despite Cowell assembling a heavyweight team – including the management behind Dua Lipa and a publicist linked to Taylor Swift – success has proved elusive.
The track limped into the charts at number 72, shifting just 6,300 combined units in its first week, prompting insiders to brand the project a ‘disaster’ and a ‘catastrophe,’ with the future of a second series now uncertain.
‘Simon was so hopeful that he could replicate One Direction. That was the premise upon which the Netflix show was built,’ one source told the Daily Mail. ‘There were many 1D comparisons used for publicity around the show and the band, but the reality is that his new band are just not there yet – and may never be.’
The setback marks a rare stumble for the man who, in his heyday, helped launch chart-topping acts including Westlife, Leona Lewis, Olly Murs, JLS and Alexandra Burke.
Britain’s Got Talent returns on Saturday, February 21, with the current judging panel of Simon, Amanda Holden, 54, Alesha Dixon, 47, and newcomer KSI, 32 – who stepped into a permanent role after Bruno Tonioli, 70, departed last year.
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He also revealed Stacey Solomon, 36, stepped in as a guest judge this series after he was forced to pull out of filming following an accident.
‘I literally fell down the stairs, so I had a concussion, so I was advised, don't do it,’ he said. ‘Obviously, I knew Stacey from X Factor…I wasn’t there, but apparently she did an amazing job.’
'There were many 1D comparisons used for publicity around the show and the band, but the reality is that his new band are just not there yet – and may never be' (Simon pictured with One Direction in 2013)
Asked if there was a chance she may be kept on as a permanent judge, he added: ‘No, we’re not changing the panel.’
The mogul also revealed that even bigger plans are underway as he confirmed the show will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a special all-stars ‘champions’ series next year.
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He said: 'The same judges will be back. We are doing a champions show next year as well, the best of the best, which is brilliant.
'You get the best contestants from all over the world and you re-compete in a big competition so, I like those kind of things.’