Simon Cowell might be known as TV’s Mr Nasty, but his interview with Piers Morgan, to be shown tonight on ITV1, shows his softer side.

In it, Simon breaks down in tears when he talks of the passing of his father Eric in 1999.

“I find it very, very difficult to deal with that kind of reality. I shut myself off totally because it affects me so badly.”

“And then, because I had to deal with that, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do – because I’d never lost anyone in my life. I just couldn’t accept it.”

Simon also talks about his relationship with his 36-year-old fiancée, Mezhgan Hussainy, with whom he is “smitten”.

Piers Morgan’s Life Stories: Simon Cowell is on tonight at 9pm on ITV1.

We reported yesterday that Sharon Osbourne may be making a comeback to the X Factor to replace Dannii Minogue, who is expecting her first child.

Dannii Minogue is apparently worried by this, and is even considering cutting short her maternity leave in order to come back to the show. Dannii was expecting to stay in Australia with her parents for some months after the birth, but may now change her plans.

“Dannii wanted to be close to her parents when the baby arrives – she knows they’ll love fussing over her and bonding with their grandchild,” a source told Closer magazine. “But now she’s worried it might result in her losing The X Factor as she’s due at the same time as the auditions kick off.

“She knows she would be taking on too much to give birth then go back to work within a few weeks.”

Simon Cowell has apparently not been returning Dannii’s calls, whilst holding meetings with Sharon Osbourne – fuelling speculation about Sharon’s return. Dannii and Sharon Osbourne famously argued repeatedly whilst they were judging the X Factor together, leading to Sharon Osbourne leaving the show.

Simon Cowell has revealed that he is ‘appalled’ at the way he treats contestants on the X Factor.

Speaking in an interview with Piers Moron, to be screened on ITV1 this Saturday, Cowell said “There are many, many times where I’ve watched the show back and I’m absolutely appalled. I think that you’ve got to be able to take it back as much as give it out – and it’s a delicate balance.”.

Many reality TV show contestants have faced the wrath of Cowell over the years. Pop Idol winner Will Young was intiailly noticed for talking back to Cowell – so clearly Simon’s not always right!

A massively controversial result this week, as the bottom two consisted of Lucie Jones and John and Edward.

Louie was extremely complimentary about Lucie, explaining that he thought she didn’t deserve to be in the bottom two, but that he had to protect his own act. Dannii Minogue unsurprisingly voted to save Lucie, and Cheryl Cole, who had previously spoken out about John and Edward, voted to send the Irish twins home. That left the deciding vote to Simon Cowell, who after slating the celtic pairing all series then proceeded to vote send Lucie home, creating a dead-lock and leaving the decision to the public vote.

As Lucie has polled the lowest number of votes, it was she who left the competition, leaving JEdward to perform again next week.