Has Simon lost the X Factor?

IT’S NOT nice coming second, or third for that matter.

However, that was the humble reality for Simon Cowell as he examined the viewing figures for the opening night of The X-Factor USA.

To add insult to injury, the programme only reached an audience of 12.5 million, way down on the predicted 20 million that was expected. After all the hype and pre-publicity, his master plan of overthrowing his former programme, American Idol, in the television stakes had gone askew.