Simon Phillip Cowell (born 7 October 1959) is an
English television personality,
A&R executive,
television producer, and
entrepreneur. He is famous in the United Kingdom and in the United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as
Pop Idol,
American Idol,
The X Factor, and
Britain's Got Talent. He is also the owner of the television production and music publishing house
Syco which will be rebranded to
Greenwell Entertainment as part of a coalition with
Sir Philip Green.
Cowell is notorious as a judge for his blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their abilities. He is often parodied in pop culture, and was described by the
The Times journalist
Minette Marrin as representing, along with his fellow judges on
Britain's Got Talent, the "heartless, thoughtless and superficial – the flotsam and jetsam of the polluted seas of celebrity that is likely to sink without trace into toxic foam".
[One song and she breaks the grip] Cowell is known for combining activities in the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities. He was most recently featured on the
sixth series of
The X Factor, the
eighth season of
American Idol and the
third series of
Britain's Got Talent.
