Simon Cowell, ITV relationship 'not temperamental', says Peter Fincham

Peter Fincham has insisted that Simon Cowell's relationship with ITV is not "temperamental".

ITV1's director of television told journalists at the Edinburgh TV Festival that the broadcaster's relationship with the X Factor supremo is "enormously fruitful".

Long before Cowell's departure from his on-screen role on the talent show, tabloid reports suggested that the music mogul was "at war" with ITV.

However, Fincham has said: "Simon was in the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent... our relationship with him is an enormously fruitful one and will continue to be so.

"It's not just Simon on screen, it's Simon in different disguises. We're delighted with [this year's] X Factor launch.

"He's really not a temperamental character. We just had the joint biggest launch we've ever had. He's delighted about it. He doesn't need to sit on the panel."

Despite fears that Cowell's departure would have a negative impact on The X Factor's ratings, last Saturday's premiere averaged 11.3 million viewers, matching 2010's opener.

> Read Digital Spy's full coverage of Peter Fincham's Edinburgh TV Festival session