SIMON COWELL'S 50TH BIRTHDAY BASH!

Article by Katie Nicholl, Dailymail.co.uk)

When a billionaire throws a party for a millionaire, the lucky guests might rightly be expecting a night with plenty of X Factor.

And those who turn out for Simon Cowell’s 50th birthday bash will surely not be disappointed.

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DOES SIMON THINK SEACREST WILL WIN EMMY?

"Simon has placed himself as far away from Los Angeles on Emmy night as possible, just in case I happen to get lucky enough to win one," American Idol host Ryan Seacrest told eonline recently at Santa Monica's Huntley Hotel. He was there to celebrate his ad campaign for Scope Outlast and Crest Plus Scope Outlast toothpaste.

Seacrest is nominated for Outstanding Reality Host.

"He's confirmed he will be in London just so he's not there in case of the little possibility that I walk away with it," Seacrest laughed. Sphere: Related Content

SAMPSON 'DROPPED BY SIMON COWELL' -- BY MAYER NISSIM, digital spy

George Sampson has reportedly been dropped by Simon Cowell's Syco label.

The 2008 Britain's Got Talent winner has been released by the company amid reports of a falling out between Sampson and Cowell, the Daily Mail reports.

A source said: "George just didn't prove as marketable as Simon had hoped.

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RANDY JACKSON THINKS THAT ELLEN DeGENERES BRINGS THE PEOPLE'S VOICE TO THE SHOW

“I think we reached out a little bit,” American Idol judge Randy Jackson told PEOPLE Thursday. “We’re all friends with Ellen, and Ryan [Seacrest] and I are pretty close with her. She’s just mad cool."

Jackson opined that he thinks that DeGeneres will be good for Idol. “There’s so much music industry insider talk with me and Simon [Cowell] and Kara [DioGuardi] that I didn’t think we needed any more of that,” he told People. “Ellen hit it right on the head — I think she could be the voice of the people. It’s like somebody in the home audience watching and going, ‘What would I say [about this contestant]?’ Ellen’s going to be saying it for [them].”

But Jackson also lamented that Paula Abdul will no longer sitting at the Idol juding table. "She’s our dear friend,” he explained. "“Paula started this whole battle with us many seasons ago, before we all knew the show could be hot, and we love her and miss her. We were doing the auditions and I was looking across the table and it was like, ‘Where’s Paula? What’s going on?’ But you know, things happen, life is full of change sometimes. You know, I’m still sad about that." Sphere: Related Content

SIMON SAYS

Several online sites gushed with the news that Simon Cowell had finally spoken about what it is like at American Idol auditions now that Paula Abdul is gone. No doubt, fans could hardly wait to hear what Simon had to say.

But the websites quoted Cowell as saying that the audition process is "different" without Paula -- that "it's like comparing a carrot to a banana." And he apparently added, "I miss her, of course."

What is amazing is that any fan would have already sensed that auditions are "different" without popular Paula -- and Cowell had already revealed that he missed her.

So it seems that Cowell is still staying quite silent on the subject of Abdul's departure from the popular vocal talent show. There was nothing new here. But when Simon speaks, people listen -- even if he is saying basically nothing at all. Sphere: Related Content

BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT WINNER GEORGE SAMPSON SPOKE ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SIMON COWELL

Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson, a breakdancer who won the competition in 2008, told The Sun that he feels "let down" by Simon Cowell, according to stv.

Sampson revealed that he feels that Cowell "lost interest" in him, stv reports.

"Things aren't going so well with me and Simon," Sampson said, according to stv. "I suppose he's realised he can make more money out of other people. ... I had one of the best-selling DVDs at the start of the year. We sold loads of copies. But I've just found out that Simon's company takes ninety per cent of the revenue. I get ten per cent. But I have to pay the production costs out of that. So I ended up owing them money." Sphere: Related Content

CONTESTANT DARYL MARKHAM TOUCHES THE X FACTOR'S HEARTS

"This show can change your life forever, simple as that," X Factor judge Simon Cowell told dailymail. "One minute you're sitting in your bedroom, suddenly you're a star. That's what can happen to you. It can change your life forever."

If fate can be influenced by fine character, one competitor who should be among those topping the leaderboard would be 40-year-old carpenter Daryl Markham.

Last year Markham was anxious for X Factor auditions, but when he learned that the auditions would coincide with his plans to stand at his brother Gary's side as best man at his wedding, he made the easy decision that the auditions would have to wait. Then, not long after the wedding, Markham's brother was diagnosed with lung cancer and six weeks later passed away.

Clad in jeans and a t-shirt, Markham emotionally told the judges about his brother and best friend. "Last year I applied to The X Factor, but unfortunately it was my brother's wedding day. Well, not unfortunately -- it was fortunate. I was very proud to be his best man," Markham explained.

"Unfortunately, shortly after his wedding, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and six weeks later he passed away," Markham continued, choking back tears. "Me and my brother were inseparable. We did everything together. He was my best friend. Only six weeks after being told, he died. He was only 37. We had a business together, two benches next to each other, me and Gary. All his tools are still there."

And along for the auditions was his brother's young son. "I promised my brother I'd look after his young nine-year-old boy, Kian. He's a very bright boy, but goes back into himself. He doesn't like to express himself too much, so we all have to be strong for him. That's why I'm here today, to make him proud."

"I've always wanted to sing," Markham continued. "My dream would be to perform before an audience and hopefully I can go on stage, give my all and hopefully my voice will do the talking."

The audience cheered as a very nervous Markham sang I Don't Want to Talk About It -- and proved that, as well as a story, he has talent. He seems likely he will move on.

Also impressing the judges was 33-year-old Jamie Archer, also known as Jamie Afro. "Today is the most important thing I've ever done -- I'm 33 years old -- it's now or never really."

Archer performed Sex on Fire -- which drew praise from the judges and even had Simon Cowell singing along! Sphere: Related Content