Receiving Bafta award my happiest moment ever: Simon Cowell

LONDON - Simon Cowell has admitted that the moment of winning the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Baftas was ‘the happiest feeling of his life’.

The X Factor mogul and Britain’s Got Talent star was given a standing ovation as he collected his gong from Ant and Dec.

“I admire him,” The Sun quoted Ant as saying.

Dec added, “And I’m terrified of him. But the man’s made ITV what it is today - still in business.”

“So many people have tried to crack America - this man has smashed it,” Ant added.

“This is a genuine honour. I wasn’t expecting it because it’s very grown-up here. I have the most talented people with me working on the shows.

“This award is more deserving to them than it is to me. I appreciate your genius because you make me look good.”

He continued, “One of my happiest memories as a kid was when my dad came home with a TV set when I was five.

“That was the best moment of my life, so to stand here getting an award for making TV shows - it’s the happiest feeling in my life.”

Cowell also introduced the idea of a new show World’s Got Talent, but how there won’t be a judging panel.

“We had a disaster attempting it once on Idol because we had 16 judges and everyone wanted to be me. The show would have to work without judges.

“The idea that Spelbound or Diversity would represent Britain in a global competition excites me. It’s like coming out of the Premiership and into the Champions League.”

Instead of a panel, Cowell wants BGT judges Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden to join him on a commentary panel. And he sees the show as a replacement for Eurovision after this year’s flop.

“If you think how rubbish the Eurovision acts have been over the years, I think they should make it as a talent show,” he said. (ANI)