Simon Cowell has hit back at former X Factor contestants

Simon Cowell has hit back at former X Factor contestants who have flopped and accused him of ruining their lives.

The 49-year-old X Factor judge has often been slated by former contestants such as Steve Brookstein and Nikki Evans.

However, Cowell talked about the show’s 2006 winner Leona Lewis and her international success.

He said: “What Leona has done is that she has made the most out of her opportunity.”

He added: “Other people, it doesn’t work out, they blame us for wrecking their lives. No, we didn’t. We just said: ‘Welcome on the talent show – we’ll put you in front of millions of people. Good luck to you.’”

Cowell also said he struggled with his conscience when Susan Boyle, a contestant on his other show Britain’s Got Talent, spent time in a London clinic after finishing the show in second place.

He said: “It was a very, very, very tricky situation for me throughout because you have to ask yourself the question: ‘Have I done the right thing or the wrong thing?’”

But he said it would have been wrong to deny Susan, 48, the opportunity to finish the competition after her meltdown.

Katie Holmes to vamp it up on So You Think You Can Dance

Katie Holmes is set to vamp it up for a Judy Garland tribute performance on US talent show So You Think You Can Dance.

Tom Cruise’s wife is reportedly planning to wow TV audiences by strutting her stuff on stage in a sexy all-black ensemble during the show, hosted by British presenter Cat Deeley.

In a jaw-dropping routine, the former Dawson’s Creek actress, 30, will sing Garland’s Get Happy hit from the 1950 musical Summer Stock.

She is expected to show off her figure in an outfit similar to Garland’s famous black velvet fedora, patent leather heels, nylon stockings, body-hugging skirt and micro-mini skirt.

Holmes has reportedly been rehearsing this week at the Fox studios, in California.

A source said the Batman Begins star has been thrilling everyone with her performance

“She looks incredible. She is just doing an amazing job. Everyone is absolutely floored by how talented she is.”

The red-hot performance is expected to be shown on the primetime Fox show early next month.