Cowell: Controversies have made No.1 race 'more exciting'

Simon Cowell relishes in the controversy surrounding 'The X Factor'.

The 51-year-old music mogul - who shocked fans by deciding to implement a semi-final sing-off for the first time in the history of the ITV1 show last weekend - admitted he welcomes internet campaigns launched in the hope of discrediting the series, as they make the race to number one more "exciting".