SIMON COWELL: I wouldn’t say that we didn’t get along well. I don’t know Ellen that well and it was a difficult position for her because she started work on the Hollywood Week which is a difficult show to do. There was one story I read that said I turned up an hour late or something and that she wanted to film and the truth was I turned up 15 or 20 minutes late because I did a press conference earlier in the day they did start filming but that wasn’t a particular problem. There was no fallout. I was trying to guide her through the week and that was about it really.

Q: What do you miss most about PAULA ABDUL?

SIMON COWELL: Paula is my friend and amazingly even though we used to argue a lot she was somebody I just got really close to over the years. We would hang out with each other after the show and she always made me laugh. I thought she was funny. It’s just like not having your friend on the show anymore so I do miss her.

Q: Of the contestants from Texas, TODRICK HALL, CASEY JAMES, LACEY BROWN, PAIGE MILES, ALEX LAMBERT and TIM URBAN, do you think anyone of them might be front runners?

SIMON COWELL: I think the guys are relatively equal. Tim was the last edition, wasn’t he, I’m not sure any of them are going to win so I would put them all in an equal position at the moment but at this point it’s tough to say.

Q: What does it feel like to have to whole nation say that you are pretty irreplaceable on the show?

SIMON COWELL: It’s very, very flattering and I really do appreciate it but like I’ve said before the show goes on and I’m going to be sad when it ends but it’s much nicer to be popular than unpopular so I do appreciate it.

Q: You made a comment earlier about the qualifications that a judge should have about knowing what they are talking about and Howard has been going on and on about his qualifications but could you be a bit more specific about how much music experience is really required for the job?

SIMON COWELL: I think it’s really important that when we first started we had a record producer, an artist and an A&R man so you covered pretty much everything you need to. I would say somebody with managerial experience would be helpful but in simplistic terms it’s like if you judge the ice skating at The Olympics, if you are going to give a score you genuinely need to know what you are talking about. I think over the years judges have been replaced by personalities and that in the long term will create problems because you have got to be able to spot a star. So, to whoever replaces me my advice has always been to find somebody who actually knows what they are talking about and has actually had success in the music business.

Q: How does that apply to Howard?

SIMON COWELL: As, I was saying that I thought he doesn’t seem to fit any of this criteria. He plays records, maybe that’s a good qualification, he’s a DJ. If he wants the job good luck to him.

Q: Can you tell us what happened to CHRIS GOLIGHTLY?

SIMON COWELL: I remember Chris’ audition very well because KARA was completely fond of him, I wasn’t quite so keen on him and then the second time we saw him in Hollywood Week he wasn’t as strong as his first audition. I honestly don’t have a clue why he has been removed from the competition. I’m guessing it’s some sought of technical reason but it’s a shame for him. He needed this opportunity.

Q: Would you let him audition on X FACTOR?

SIMON COWELL: Well, I’ve got to find out what the reason is first but if it was something like a technical reason of course he could.

Q: Since this is your last year, what mentors are you hoping to work with? Is there anyone that you have not worked with that you are hoping to have on?

SIMON COWELL: Who comes, to mind? We’ve had on some pretty good people already but I think we should have LADY GAGA because she is the most relevant pop star in the world at the moment. So, I think she should be number one. I’ve met her and she’s very smart, I like her.

Q: Obviously, you have some really good singers this year but some have what you would call less than Hollywood looks so how do you balance what’s good for the TV show with what’s good for the music industry?

SIMON COWELL: The reason we put a variety of people through primarily was talent and we are interested in them as people. I think if you just pick everybody because they look the way that you think they should look then it will be like when it happened a few years ago, I think every blonde girl in the competition looked identical and I couldn’t tell one from the other. I think it’s important that you can recognize talent and personalities so I think it’s good that we have that this year.

Q: Do the sob stories ever make an impact on the judges?

SIMON COWELL: Not really, not on me, I’ve heard so many of them over the years. It’s about remembering people and that’s important when you go from auditions to the Hollywood round. Most people you can’t remember and if you can remember somebody it’s a good place to start.

Q: Atlanta, is the home to GENERAL LARRY PLATT, PANTS ON THE GROUND, can you give us your take on the whole phenomenon?

SIMON COWELL: It’s an interesting thing because when he came on the show it’s one of the reason why on X FACTOR we didn’t put an age cap on the show because I always found a lot of these older contestants really funny or interesting, whether it’s him or SUSAN BOYLE. I’ve got to tell you that for him I’m absolutely thrilled that all this has happened for him because he needed a break and I’m glad it has worked out well.

Q: You have said a couple of times talking about your replacement that they needed experience in the music business and has to know what they are talking about and who has had success in the music business , are those comments directed at Ellen?

SIMON COWELL: I was thinking that while I was saying that people are going to misinterpret what I’m saying. No, I will tell you why I think Ellen is a good choice because she is very responsible for the people she has performing on her own show. I know that for a fact because I have dealt with her as a record label. She loves music and as far as her being an artist it wasn’t meant to question her credentials. It was specifically talking about my replacement because my role on the show was somebody who has run a successful record label. It was really specifically towards my replacement.

Q: I’m curious about what you think the two Boston contestants, SIOBHAN MAGNUS and ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ need to do to stay in the running?

SIMON COWELL: I think you have got to be original. I remember that the reason DAVID COOK did so well and how he came into the front when he competed was that he managed to find interesting versions of well known songs and did them in his style. I remember the first time he performed to LIONEL RICHIE song HELLO he turned it into a rock version. He found the CHRIS CORNELL version of BILLIE JEAN. He was smart and I would say the same thing to these two contestants. Don’t always do the obvious, try and find something which is more unique and interesting. And suck up to me, that always helps.

Q: What we have seen so far has been a lot of editing and with the live show coming up I was wondering if you are going to try and maybe take a driving instructor role this year and try to take the wheel when needed and or are you going to stay as visible as you have been?

SIMON COWELL: You know, it is always frustrating when you are on an edited show because it’s an edited show and that is why I prefer doing live TV. What I always do when I do these live shows is not go in there with any sort of preconceived idea of what it’s going to be like or what people are going to be like. I like to be in the moment and do what I do in my own career which is hope that I make the right decision and if that means disagreeing with people than I don’t have a problem with that. I have never had a problem with that, I am truth full and give constructive advice. Ordinarily, I say what the people at home are thinking.

Q: So, even though you are leaving you are not going to turn to reigns over?
SIMON COWELL: That would be impossible. I’ll keep to my seat and hopefully be the last one to speak. It’s always easier to be the last one than the first one. I want to go out on a high. I’ve said this over and over again, this is my last season and I want it to be successful and I will do everything I can to make it happen.

Q: There has been a tremendous speculation about who could possibly replace you on AMERICAN IDOL so has anyone contacted you personally about the job and who would your dream replacement be?

SIMON COWELL: Well, you are never going to pick anyone as good as you, are you? So, that’s why I don’t think anybody really asks me that question. I can give generally advice as I’ve said before but I think the important thing is what I’ve said earlier on is that you have seen people put in a role to play a certain role and that has become very tiresome. People always notify that person as the mean judge or whatever that is and you just have to find somebody who is not afraid to speak their mind, is honest and occasionally blunt but not to be gratuitously rude. I’m really getting tired of all that now. There will be a lot of people, as you know that want the job. I think ironically that it’s going to help next season because there is going to be a lot of interest into who replaces me.

Q: Who could do it in your mind?

Q: I know you say you don’t know who will replace you but how about NOEL GALLAGHER from OASIS?

SIMON COWELL: I don’t think people would understand him, if you subtitled him. Actually, I know NOEL well and I like him , he’s very funny and he is a brilliant songwriter. It’s a possibility. The good news for them is that there is no shortage of candidates. There are a lot of people, actually the hardest thing about finding a replacement is that when you hear people’s names like MADONNA, it will never happen because you’ve got to give a massive time commitment so that’s always been a problem when you are trying to find people for these shows. You have to find people that are willing to give up that much time.

Q: Don’t you feel it has to be a British person like a PIERCE MORGAN or someone like that?

SIMON COWELL: Pierce does a great job on AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, this person specifically has got to have a lot of experience in the music business. It is the most important thing. That’s what I think will happen, I think they will find somebody’s who has got that kind of experience whether it be a manager, artist or A&R.