Simon Cowell has confessed he does choose girls to go through to the next round on The X Factor just because they are cute.

The 52-year-old judge - who split from his make-up artist fiancee Mezhgan Hussainy earlier this year - confessed he likes being single so he can flirt with the pretty girls who audition for him, The Sun reports.

Simon said: "If you are single, you can flirt. We've definitely put girls through because they are cute, in the same way the girls put guys through - it's just the way of the world."

The music mogul insisted he wasn't bothered by the revelations in Tom Bower's explosive biography, which included his alleged affair with Dannii Minogue.

He said: "I've been a naughty boy - that's why I got into the music business. I've had my fair share, nothing too bad."

Simon insisted he was pleased to be famous, because it helped boost the success of his show.

He said: "I'm immensely flattered because it means people watch the shows. Without the shows being popular no one would know who I am!"