Thaindian News

Aug 21 (IBNS) It was dream contestant Leona Lewis who changed the mind of Simon Cowell when the latter nearly walked away from The X Factor two years ago, it was confessed.

Cowell, the creator of the ITV1 smash - which will kick off its sixth series on Saturday - said he had second thoughts, “This is because producing the show and being on it was a lot to juggle”.

He said: She reminded me why we do this. Leona is the reason I decided to sign on for two more years. She made it worthwhile again.”

Stating that some winners, like Steve Brookstein and Shayne Ward, didn’t light up the charts, the 49-year-old felt: You’re not going to get it right every time, it’s the same in any business.

However, the music mogul seemed to have very high hopes for last year’s winner Alexandra Burke.

“Last year during the duet with Beyonce, she really showed she had the confidence to hold the stage alongside a global star.”

It may be mentioned that Simon Cowell had to finally call the police after it was found that 2006 X-Factor winner Leona Lewis’ new track was leaked on the Internet.

Cowell discovered that hackers targeted his record company Syco’s computers in a bid to nick tracks.

Buzz up! It was earlier revealed that unfinished songs by last year’s X Factor winner Alexandra Burke were stolen, and were being marketed as the finished article.