There’s many questions we’d like to ask Simon Cowell – why did you unleash Big Breakfast’s Zig and Zag on the charts? Did you really think the Teletubbies would make credible pop stars when you signed them? Which one of your double act do you prefer, Robson or Jerome?
But there’s one request the music mogul, 56, dreads his son Eric making, and that’s for him to stop smoking.
The X Factor boss insists he’s cut back but hasn’t quit smoking completely.
He told the Daily Mirror: “These [menthol cigarettes] are as bad as the others. I do about ten a day and I have cut down.
“I tried the vapour ones but I hated it. I have tried everything. If Eric grows up and says stop it I don’t know what I would do.
“I don’t smoke around him and I wouldn’t do that. I have thought about what he might say in a few years. It is my worst vice.
“I was saying to [One Direction star] Louis [Tomlinson], this is the one thing I would find very difficult to give up because I do love a cigarette. A cigarette and a beer.”
Meanwhile, Simon insists the X Factor is still doing well enough to be on screens for at least another five years.
He has brushed off criticism that the show is “tiring” and says he will still be on the judging panel when he’s 60.
He told The Sun: “Would I like to be celebrating my 60th with X Factor still on air? Yes I would...
“I wouldn’t worry about the future of X Factor. We’re going to be fine. If we’re sitting here in ten years’ time we’ll have a very large celebration.”
He added: “Ten years on, to be getting ten million viewers in this day and age – it’s a miracle.”
GALLERY: All the X Factor finalists EVER
All X Factor finalists
1 of 152Cassie Compton - Series 1
2 of 152G4 - Series 1
3 of 152Roberta Howett - Series 1
4 of 1522 To Go - Series 1
5 of 152Rowetta Satchell - Series 1
6 of 152Tabby Callaghan - Series 1
7 of 152Verity Keays - Series 1
8 of 152Voices With Soul - Series 1
9 of 152Steve Brookstein - Series 1 - WINNER!
10 of 152Andy Abrahams - Series 2
11 of 1524Tune - Series 2
12 of 152Brenda Edwards - Series 2
13 of 152Chenai Zinyuku - Series 2
14 of 152Addictiv Ladies - Series 2
15 of 152Chico Slimani - Series 2
16 of 152Journey South - Series 2
17 of 152Maria Lawson - Series 2
18 of 152Nicholas Dorsett - Series 2
19 of 152Phillip Magee - Series 2
20 of 152The Conway Sisters - Series 2
21 of 152Shane Ward - Series 2 - WINNER!
22 of 152Ashley McKenzie - Series 3
23 of 1524Sure - Series 3
24 of 152Ben Mills - Series 3
25 of 152Dionne Mitchell - Series 3
26 of 152Kerry McGregor - Series 3
27 of 152Robert Allen - Series 3
28 of 152Eton Road - Series 3
29 of 152Nikitta Angus - Series 3
30 of 152The MacDonald Brothers - Series 3
31 of 152The Unconventionals - Series 3
32 of 152Ray Quinn - Series 3
33 of 152Leona Lewis - Series 3 - WINNER!
34 of 152Alisha Bennett - Series 4
35 of 152Andy Williams - Series 4
36 of 152Futureproof - Series 4
37 of 152Kimberley Southwick - Series 4
38 of 152Hope - Series 4
39 of 152Emily Nakanda - Series 4
40 of 152Beverley Trotman - Series 4
41 of 152Same Difference - Series 4
42 of 152Daniel DeBourg - Series 4
43 of 152Niki Evans - Series 4
44 of 152Rhydian Roberts - Series 4
45 of 152Leon Jackson - Series 4 - WINNER!
46 of 152Scott Bruton - Series 5
47 of 152Girlband - Series 5
48 of 152Bad Lashes - Series 5
49 of 152Austin Drage - Series 5
50 of 152Laura White - Series 5
51 of 152Daniel Evans - Series 5
52 of 152Rachel Hylton - Series 5
53 of 152Ruth Lorenzo - Series 5
54 of 152Diana Vickers - Series 5
55 of 152JLS - Series 5
56 of 152Eoghan Quigg - Series 5
57 of 152Alexandra Burke - Series 5 - WINNER!
58 of 152Miss Frank - Series 6
59 of 152Kandy Rain - Series 6
60 of 152Rikki Loney - Series 6
61 of 152Rachel Adedji - Series 6
62 of 152Lucie Jones - Series 6
63 of 152Jamie Archer - Series 6
64 of 152Jedward - Series 6
65 of 152Lloyd Daniels - Series 6
66 of 152Danyl Johnson - Series 6
67 of 152Olly Murs - Series 6
68 of 152Joe McElderry - Series 6 - WINNER!
69 of 152Storm Lee - Series 7
70 of 152Diva Fever - Series 7
71 of 152Paije Richardson - Series 7
72 of 152John Adeleye - Series 7
73 of 152Belle Amie - Series 7
74 of 152Treyc Cohen - Series 7
75 of 152FYD - Series 7
76 of 152Aiden Grimshaw - Series 7
77 of 152Katie Waissel - Series 7
78 of 152Nicolo Festa - Series 7
79 of 152Wagner - Series 7
80 of 152Cher Lloyd - Series 7
81 of 152One Direction - Series 7
82 of 152Rebecca Ferguson - Series 7
83 of 152Matt Cardle - Series 7 - WINNER!
84 of 152Amelia Lily - Series 8
85 of 152Craig Colton - Series 8
86 of 152Frankie Cocozza - Series 8
87 of 152James Michael - Series 8
88 of 152Johnny Robinson - Series 8
89 of 152Janet Devlin - Series 8
90 of 152Jonjo Kerr - Series 8
91 of 152Kitty Brucknell - Series 8
92 of 1522 Shoes - Series 8
93 of 152Marcus Collins - Series 8
94 of 152Misha B - Series 8
95 of 152Nu Vibe - Series 8
96 of 152Sami Brookes - Series 8
97 of 152The Risk - Series 8
98 of 152Sophie Habibis - Series 8
99 of 152Little Mix - Series 8 - WINNER!
100 of 152Christopher Maloney - Series 9
101 of 152District 3 - Series 9
102 of 152Carolynne Poole - Series 9
103 of 152Kye Sones - Series 9
104 of 152Ella Henderson - Series 9
105 of 152Rylan Clark - Series 9
106 of 152Jade Ellis - Series 9
107 of 152Jahmene Douglas - Series 9
108 of 152Lucy Spraggan - Series 9
109 of 152MK1 - Series 9
110 of 152Melanie Masson - Series 9
111 of 152Union J - Series 9
112 of 152James Arthur - Series 9 - WINNER!
113 of 152Lorna Simpson - Series 10
114 of 152Luke Friend - Series 10
115 of 152Miss Dynamix - Series 10
116 of 152Nicholas McDonald - Series 10
117 of 152Abi Alton - Series 10
118 of 152Sam Bailey - Series 10 - WINNER!
119 of 152Shelley Smith - Series 10
120 of 152Hannah Barrett - Series 10
121 of 152Tamera Foster - Series 10
122 of 152Rough Copy - Series 10
123 of 152Sam Callahan - Series 10
124 of 152Kingsland Road - Series 10
125 of 152Paul Akister - Series 11
126 of 152Andrea Faustini - Series 11
127 of 152Jake Quickenden - Series 11
128 of 152Jack Walton - Series 11
129 of 152Chloe Jasmine - Series 11
130 of 152Stephanie Nala - Series 11
131 of 152Lauren Platt - Series 11
132 of 152Lola Saunders - Series 11
133 of 152Fleur East - Series 11
134 of 152Ben Haenow - Series 11
135 of 152Jay James - Series 11
136 of 152Stevi Ritchie - Series 11
137 of 152Blonde Electra - Series 11
138 of 152Only The Young - Series 11
139 of 152Overload Generation - Series 11
140 of 152Stereo Kicks - Series 11
141 of 152Lauren Murray - Series 12
142 of 152Louisa Johnson - Series 12
143 of 152Kiera Weathers - Series 12
144 of 152Che Chesterman - Series 12
145 of 152Seann Miley Moore - Series 12
146 of 152Mason Noise - Series 12
147 of 152Alien Uncovered - Series 12
148 of 1524th Impact - Series 12
149 of 152Reggie and Bollie - Series 12
150 of 152Anton Stephans - series 12
151 of 152Bupsi Brown - series 12
152 of 152