Simon Cowell's Hits & Misses

Click the thumbnails for more details

Say what you like about Simon Cowell, he knows how to laugh at himself. Anyone whose 50th birthday party features a 60-foot projection of their face across the venue is either a dangerous megalomaniac or possesses an impressive facility for self-deprecation.

We're going with the latter.

Anyway, despite his enormous success, it's not all been plain sailing for Simon. Did you know he turned down the Spice Girls on the grounds that girl bands don't sell records? That's right up there with Decca turning down the Beatles because "guitar groups are going out of fashion".

So, by way of our own little gift to the birthday boy, here's a selection of Simon's hits and misses down the years.

• Celebrate Madonna
• Songs inspired by real people
• See photos from Simon's 50th birthday party