Hi Jonathan what do you think of the quality of musicians who have emerged from shows like the X factor such as Leona Lewis?
And is true you were offered a contract to be a judge on Pop Idol just before you were fitted up by the Police and CPS?

Yes Hugh (I like your phrasing and choice of words); I was begged to be a Pop Stars judge by Nigel (who, on my constant refusal, took the role himself) at the request of ITV network (and for enormous money - a six figure sum every show and 26 shows guaranteed!).

I turned it down for two reasons - I'd done it before (in all the Juke Box Jury type elements of my earlier life - columns etc - controversial and acid). And the Mets were playing the Yankees in the World Series and nothing could stop me attending every single game in New York.

Simon came up with the idea for Pop Idol but again I refused the "nasty" role which he took upon himself. Just as well as my arrest and wrongful conviction would have damaged the filming of Pop Stars.

Simon, my friend, was my Bail Bond for

Thank you for that JK.

Watched it last night - God it's awful now.

Why cannot TV executives realise that a good idea - a great format - gets stale very quickly?

Adapt and change ahead of the public getting bored.

That old chestnut "if it ain't broke don't fix it" avoids the truth - what may be perfect for 2003 may be stale by 2007.

Look at Big Brother - clever idea ruined by getting predictable.
Deal Or No Deal? Ditto; loved it to start with; hate it now.

Ditto Millionaire. Ditto Weakest Link.