Simon Cowell has vowed to heal his rift with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh - after their TV snipes about him sparked a vicious war of words between Sharon and Amanda Holden.
Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda last week triggered a torrent of abuse from Sharon after branding the two Celebrity Big Brother stars "bitter and pathetic" over their attacks on Simon.
Since she lashed out, Simon, 64, has been asked constantly for his reaction. Cowell, who famously ditched his mobile phone 8 years ago, and hasn’t watched any of the Big Brother footage, has remained silent about the drama.
But today he reacted for the first time insisting he still considers Sharon and Louis "good friends" and admitted he blames himself for losing touch with them. He also revealed he plans to reach out to both this week in a bid to calm the storm.
In an exclusive interview, Simon said: "If you put Sharon and Louis in the house, that's what you pay them for, they're going to be controversial. I still consider Sharon and Louis really good friends, we could pick up the phone to each other tomorrow. I think that's probably one of the things they're upset about, because they can never get hold of me.
Amanda Holden hits the beach in her New Year's Eve outfit after partying
Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh during their Celebrity Big Brother stint (REX/Shutterstock for Big Brother)"Amanda is a great friend, but I really do believe Sharon and Louis are great friends as well. I don’t have a phone but from what I heard, what they said about me was actually quite funny. And I probably will phone them both in the next week or so, because I haven't spoken to them for a while and it sounds like I should do.
"What would I like to say to them? 'How are you?' Whenever I meet them, see them, speak to them, it's like we've spoken yesterday. My honest opinion is I think we miss each other."
Simon returns to screens tonight for the second episode of this year's Britain's Got Talent, alongside fellow judges Amanda, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon, and hosts Ant and Dec.
And he told how the group have developed a genuine friendship after years of working together - revealing this year he has been giving dad-to-be Ant parenting advice behind the scenes.
He went on: "Who am I closest to? I don't want to get in trouble here... I'm close to all of them for different reasons.
"Bruno, I've known for probably 40 years. Amanda I've worked with for more than 20 years, Alesha I did a show with in America. We have a real friendship, it's the same with Ant and Dec.
"Over the years, we have got really, really close, and it makes the show so much more fun to do.
"When I heard Ant was going to become a dad, I told him it would be the best thing that ever happened to him. I basically said the first nine months are a bit strange because they can't talk to you.
The BGT line-up pictured earlier this month (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)"I remember saying to Lauren about Eric at one point: 'I don't think he likes me.'
"But then after a year everything changes and it's hilarious, it's great fun, and you'll really really enjoy it. And it will be life-changing for him. I'm really happy for both of them.
Amanda Holden strips off to white bikini ahead of return to radio show
"What will happen if the baby arrives during the live shows? I'll probably have to host with Dec. Why not?"
Now in its 17th year, this series of Britain’s Got Talent will see some truly incredible acts take to the stage.
But that has not stopped Simon looking for talent elsewhere.
We revealed last month that the former X Factor judge is in talks with several streaming services about a TV hunt for the next One Direction, which he says is "really exciting."
And today he reveals he is working on a second TV talent show - which he says he hopes will involve former co-star Cheryl.
The pair were reunited on the final episode of Saturday Night Takeaway last week, with Simon later admitting he had missed her.
And he continued: “Cheryl was brilliant on the show, great to work with, really good fun - and there might be something coming up where we might be working together, funnily enough.
"I can't tell you much at the moment. I don't think it will be on a streaming service, this one, and it won't be X Factor. But it will be TV because Cheryl is great on TV. She's fantastic.
Sharon and Louis during their X Factor days (Dym/Thames/Syco/REX/Shutterstock)"Just as Sharon and Louis were as well - they both did a brilliant job. I have a lot to be thankful for with both of them.
"The project I'm working with Cheryl on is in very early stages, and until it's signed I'm really superstitious. Once it's signed I couldn't care less, but until then I try to keep things confidential.
"I thought about five, six years ago, I really thought with all the platforms available to artists we would see tons of new artists breaking out every year on social media.
"I actually now think the reverse is happening, it's such a crowded marketplace and there are so many people trying to get attention online - hundreds of thousands if not millions of people.
"What these shows do is you get to see a much bigger audience, I would argue there is a bigger need for these shows than 10, 20 years ago and I genuinely didn't think that would happen.
"If I was working at a record label now I wouldn't know where to start. If there is a purpose I will always continue to make these shows, because it really is a great platform, and now we are developing something really different."
The war of words
On CBB Sharon said to Louis:“That’s Simon, he cuts you off, cuts you off, cuts you off. “He doesn’t know how to keep friends. “Why do you think I am so f****** mad with Simon because remember that year you and I were contracted to do X Factor and it was the first year of The Masked Singer in America and they asked me to do it and I said I can’t because of X Factor with Simon So then they cast it and then when Simon, well he didn’t call, but they called and said 'No you’re not doing it [X Factor]’. I missed a huge gig. So I was furious.”
She vowed never to work with Simon again, accusing him of damaging her career. Louis admitted he hasn’t spoken to Simon since The X Factor days. Then Amanda came out to defend Simon:“I hated seeing certain people in a reality show dissing Simon – he’s the
person who’s given them all the chances, given them a lot of money and a lifestyle they probably wouldn’t have had. It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background – just stabby, stabby, stabby.”
But Sharon hit back on Twitter:“Our worlds are totally different. I have been blessed with an amazing lifestyle throughout my entire life. Before you were born, I was living in a mansion in Beverly Hills and continue to do so today and continue to have my country estate in England as well. But there is something you should know. I never discuss money, lifestyle or positions of power. I find it to be classless and crude.”
Britain's Got Talent is on Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 7.40pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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