Cowell: 'Beatles comment was a joke'

Simon Cowell has admitted that a comment he made about The Beatles not making the cut on his talent shows was "a joke".

Earlier this week, the reality judge was asked by The Early Show presenter Amanda Holden about how The Fab Four would fare on American Idol and Britain's Got Talent.

He responded: "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."

However, the 49-year-old has now explained that his reply was intended to be humourous, E! reports.

"Regarding my comments on The Beatles, it was a joke," he said in a statement. "I have always said they were the group I have always wished I had signed."

Cowell also refuted Victoria Beckham's recent claim that the music mogul had turned down the opportunity to sign the Spice Girls.

He added: "Also, to set the record straight it was recently reported that I turned down the Spice Girls. In fact, I offered the girls a recording contract before they were signed and actually offered to double the offer they had on the table."

Cowell has yet to remark on the hiring of Ellen DeGeneres as the new fourth judge on Idol.