'Brutal' Simon Cowell appalled by his TV persona

X FACTOR judge Simon Cowell has admitted he is "appalled" by the way he has treated contestants on TV talent shows he has been judging.

The media mogul said he had looked back at some shows and realises he has "gone too far" when he saw how brutal he had been.

Cowell also revealed about how he initially failed to provide enough support for Susan Boyle when she began to struggle with the pressure of fame.

And during a TV interview to be broadcast on ITV1 this weekend, he talked about how he gave the West Lothian singer the option of walking away from Britain's Got Talent.

He said: "There are many times where I've watched the show and I'm absolutely appalled."