X Factor judge Simon Cowell has admitted that he owes his success to Pete Waterman who was a judge on Pop Idol and Popstars: The Rivals, according to reports.
Pete told the Daily Record that he would not like to swap his life for Simon's -for anything.
He explained: "I like to toddle off to Irvine and play at my own model railway company there. I couldn't do that if I was having Simon's lifestyle.
"I do what I want, I go where I want. I'm not tied down to people telling me what I want to do.
"But Simon is a lot better looking than me, he's a lot younger than me and he's certainly a lot richer."
Pete was a successful record producer when Simon asked him to produce songs for his then girlfriend, Sinitta.
Previously Simon has said: "I learned so much from people like Pete Waterman - real tough love.
"He would tell me I didn't know what I was talking about, that I was bloody useless - and to come back when I had a hit."
Pete was also full of praise for Simon, saying: "I really appreciate that honesty. It would be very easy for him to say he thought it all up.
"He admits that I taught him how to do it and he just followed. But I wasn't in his league when it came to directness.
"Simon was, and is, so focused. I've never been that ruthless."
Pete and Simon joined forces on Pop Idol in 2001, discovering Will Young and Gareth Gates.
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