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Simon Cowell: recent X Factor acts 'not as good as in 2010'

22 March 2014 Last updated at 00:29 GMT

X Factor judge Simon Cowell has told the BBC the standard of acts dropped during his nearly-four-year absence from the show.

Speaking to Radio 4 Today presenter James Naughtie, Mr Cowell said the programme's success depended not only on the judging panel, but on the contestants too.

"If you have people on the show who haven't got that world class potential, the audience will go down," he said.

James Naughtie's interview with Simon Cowell will be broadcast on Today on Radio 4 on Saturday 22 March 2014