Cowell: 'I would have rejected Ringo'

Simon Cowell has suggested that The Beatles would struggle to make it past the first phases of his reality talent shows with their complete lineup intact.

Speaking to Amanda Holden on CBS's The Early Show, Cowell joked that he would knock back Ringo Starr and only accept John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

Holden asked: "If the Beatles came on Britain's Got Talent or American Idol, do you think you would have put them through to boot camp?"

Cowell replied: "I think we would have said, 'We'll take those three but we'll probably lose the drummer'. Ringo, I'm afraid, it's bad news."

The Beatles have been tipped to dominate this week's album charts following yesterday's release of their remastered back catalogue.