unilad homepage
unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Music
  • Technology
  • Film and TV
    • News
    • DC Comics
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Netflix
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Simon Cowell reveals what his first job was and why he got fired from it
Home>Film & TV
Updated 11:49 1 Jun 2023 GMT+1Published 12:44 2 Oct 2022 GMT+1

Simon Cowell reveals what his first job was and why he got fired from it

The X Factor creator Simon Cowell has revealed what his first job was and how he got fired from it.

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: wired/TikTok

Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Simon Cowell

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Simon Cowell has revealed what his first job was – and the reason he was fired from it.

The X Factor creator revealed how he started off in TV in an interview with Wired alongside fellow America's Got Talent judge Sofía Vergara.

In the interview, Cowell and Vergara were answering the web's most searched questions about themselves.

One of the most searched things about Cowell was questions about his first job, to which he replied he was a runner.

Advert

Simon Cowell explained how he got fired from his first job.
Wired/YouTube

Perplexed, Vergara asks 'what did you do', not understanding what a runner is.

Cowell replied to her saying that he 'runs' – glad that one has been cleared up.

Cowell explained further: "When you are a runner you basically do everything. Whatever you're asked to do, you just do, and they pay you nothing.

"That's why I am a very fast runner."

Cowell admitted that he wasn't exactly the model worker as a runner, and revealed he was actually fired from the job.

Despite getting axed, Cowell still turned up to the job.

He said: "I got shouted at a lot.

"I smashed up one of the cars. In fact, I got fired – the PA's liked me so much, they paid for my salary. And every time the boss arrived, I had to hide under the desk."


Vergara was fascinated by the story, telling Cowell that he should 'write a script about it, that sounds like a comedy'.

Despite all the chaos surrounding the job, Cowell admitted that he did enjoy it.

And it's fair to say, the record executive has had a decent career since.

Cowell is the creator of The X Factor and also started off the Got Talent franchise which has been sold around the globe, including the UK and US.

Cowell also has his own record label in Syco, which has some of the biggest artists in the world.

Simon Cowell went on to create The X Factor in the years after his runner job.
AFF / Alamy Stock Photo

Many former X Factor contestants were signed to the record label, including One Direction and Leona Lewis.

Talking of The X Factor, the show has been off our screens for a few years, but it looks set to be making a return. In July, the Daily Star reported that the music show would be making a return – but not to its usual home on ITV.

Instead, Simon Cowell has reportedly signed a 'big-money deal' with Channel 5.

The paper said the new series is set to be on our screens next year.

Choose your content:

16 hours ago
a day ago
4 days ago
  • Netflix
    16 hours ago

    Laci Peterson’s alleged notes that ‘disprove murder theory’ revealed in Scott Peterson documentary

    Scott Peterson is serving life in prison for the murder of his wife and their unborn son

    Film & TV
  • Focus Features
    a day ago

    Every streaming platform you can watch Obsession on as indie horror breaks box office records

    Obsession is one of the biggest hitters of the year, the indie horror up there alongside some huge Hollywood titles.

    Film & TV
  • Getty Images/Aalok Soni
    a day ago

    Christopher Nolan explains why he cut a 3,000-year-old joke from The Odyssey

    Homer's story has survived since the 8th to 7th century BC but one pun didn't make the cut in Christopher Nolan's take on the Greek epic

    Film & TV
  • Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Images
    4 days ago

    Jurassic Park star Sam Neill has died aged 78

    Sam Neill's family confirmed the loss was 'sudden and unexpected'

    Film & TV

    breaking

  • Simon Cowell reveals exact moment he found out about Liam Payne's death as he breaks silence
  • 'Nauseating' America's Got Talent act so extreme judges couldn't watch it
  • Happy Days' Henry Winkler reveals what it was like to film first nude scene at 79
  • Growing Pains child star Ashley Johnson recalls terrifying moment she was nearly kidnapped from set by armed man