Simon Cowell Says Cheryl Fernandez-Versini And Liam Payne Are Like ‘Two Little Chipmunks Madly In Love’

Simon Cowell says he was as surprised as the rest of us when he found out Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Liam Payne were dating, but he’s revealed the pair are ‘madly in love’.

The music mogul says he got over his doubts after going out for dinner with the love birds last month.

He told The Sun: “I saw them together and we had a really nice dinner. They were on good form.

“They’re like two little chipmunks madly in love. Literally, they were so cute.”

He added: “Importantly they both seemed very happy over here [in LA] and very relaxed. I’m happy for them.”

He also denied he had to apologise to Dermot O’Leary, who is returning to host the ‘X Factor’, just one year after being axed from the show by Simon.

“I hate to disappoint you. Not. In. The. Slightest. It was so much fun,” SImon insisted.

“I said to him straight away: ‘To be honest with you, Dermot, I thought you wanted to leave. In hindsight, of course I should have called you. Anyway, whatever happened, happened. I miss you. The public miss you. You are brilliant at your job.’

“The fact is that I’m delighted he’s coming back — he’s a great guy. And he’ll do a great job."

Meanwhile, it was revealed this weekend that Sharon Osbourne could also be making a return to the ‘X Factor’ as a judge in a bid to win back older viewers..

An source told the Sun: “The bosses think they made the show too young last year and having Nick Grimshaw, Rita and Cheryl on the panel was part of that.

“Sharon’s an X Factor legend but when she went back for a year Simon wasn’t on the panel. Their rows are legendary and that dynamic could work well.”