Cowell to pay contestant €70,000?

Talent show judge Simon Cowell has agreed to pay a contestant €69,500 if he wins a record contract and a number one single.

Cowell was so unimpressed by Paul Holt's performance on his British show The X Factor, he offered to pay him the huge sum if he successfully secured a record deal.

But Holt has been signed and is now sixth favourite for the UK Christmas number one with single Fifty Grand For Christmas - and Cowell has agreed to pay up if he tops the chart.

He says- "I was waiting for this to happen. Oh, this is going to cost me, but it's one cheque I'd be happy to write.

"Good for him. Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but a bet is a bet."