Lord Lloyd-Webber: Simon Cowell doesn't work hard enough with his artists

Simon Cowell should work harder with his artists, Lord Lloyd-Webber has suggested, contrasting his own treatment of up-and-coming talent with that of the X-Factor impressario.

The composer hit out at Cowell after putting identical twins Francine and Nicola Gleadall, who were rejected from the X Factor, into the final of his BBC One show to find a good Eurovision act for Britain.

Cowell, 48, had described the pair as having "the personality of two bananas". They were ejected at the boot camp stage of the show.

But Lord Lloyd-Webber criticised Cowell's attitude with some of his artists, saying he had " a problem".

He said: "I think the public will fall in love with them. If Simon Cowell didn't think so, that's his problem.

"He doesn't work with the artists the way I do. I spend a lot of time with the artists working on what they need. The kids get to know me. They know they can call me up day or night - and they do. We are like a family."

He went further, saying: "We nurture, we don't torture. I am here to support and get the best out of everyone. We look at how they can all take their career beyond the show."

Lord Lloyd-Webber went further, and in what appeared to be a personal attack, said: "I can't speak for Simon. He's probably still sunning himself in Barbados and extending his property."

The Gleadall twins, students from Sheffield, are among the six acts battling it out to win the right to represent their country at the Eurovision Song Contest.

Lord Lloyd-Webber has made it his mission to revive Britain's flagging fortunes in the competition. The last time a UK entry won was in 1997.

The half-dozen acts will perform every Saturday night for a month on Your Country Needs You for the chance to represent Britain, with one being forced to leave each week.


- telegraph.co.uk