Simon Cowell Slams Britney Spears

Acid tongued "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell has launched a scathing attack on troubled pop star Britney Spears.

The straight talking music mogul told British 'Closer Magazine': "If Britney walked into the X-factor auditions, she wouldn't get through now.

American Idol's infamous Mr Nasty hinted that Britney's friends might be to blame for her dramatic downfall. Offering a word of advice Simon added: "I'd tell her to look at the people around her. If she'd been living with her parents I don't think she'd be like she is now.

Meanwhile, Cowell's latest series of British TV show "X Factor" kicked off brilliantly over the weekend, with its highest ever debut, pulling in 9.5 million viewers and a 45% share for the network (ITV 1).