Cowell defends reality TV

Pop Idol’s Mr Nasty, Simon Cowell, defended reality television today as he admitted being a big fan of other fly-on-the-wall shows including this year’s Big Brother and Wife Swap.

The millionaire music mogul, whose new talent show The X Factor begins next week, said the story of Michelle’s infatuation with Stuart on in Big Brother 5 was “every guy’s nightmare” and had made “compelling” viewing.