He may have completely ditched us for his career in the states, but Simon Cowell wasn’t too good to make a flying in visit to our UK X Factor.

Dressed is casual jeans, chewing gum and his square hair growing taller by the minute, Simon let rip on what he really thinks about his replacement judges…

Speaking about his departure Simon comically bragged to Xtra Factor co-host Caroline Flack: “They miss me, but, that’s the way it goes.”

He then expressed how surprisingly happy he is with his new three judges.

After news hit that the formidable love/hate Marmite judge Simon, Aussie Dannii Minogue and the nations sweetheart, Cheryl Cole, were no longer going to be scrutinising and criticising the X factor hopefuls, ITV bosses panicked that the show flop.

But along came, straight talking Take That Gary Barlow, flirtatious Kelly Rowland and no messing Tulisa Contostavlos, to save the day.

Pleased with his choice in judges the 51-year-old music mogul shared his shrewd opinions on why he was right to pick them…

“Gary’s like a producer and he knows how to spot a star.”

‘Kelly, she’s like an athlete, and it’s this American professionalism – she’s always, always on it.’
With a soft spot for for a mature yet feisty young women, Simon expressed he liked the ‘lippy brat’ inside London lass Tulisa.

With the new judges already scoring themselves a massive fan base, this years X Factor is sure to give the US version a run for it’s money…