Cowell 'banned from Spears's dressing room'

Simon Cowell and the other X Factor judges were reportedly forced to huddle in a corridor to meet Britney Spears when she appeared on Saturday's results show.

Cowell was banned from introducing himself to the singer in her dressing room by security, who apparently swamped the backstage area.

The Sun claims that Spears also admitted that she had not watched the finalists perform her songs, despite there being a television in her dressing room.

The 26-year-old was given Cowell's room after refusing to use a Winnebago motorhome like other stars who have appeared. Spears, who was making her first UK television appearance in four years, mimed her latest single 'Womanizer' on the ITV1 talent contest.

An insider said: "You have never seen so many heavies. Even around the judges' dressing rooms was sealed off by Britney's security people. When the judges went to meet her, her security wouldn't let anyone past.

"Everyone was stunned she admitted that she hadn't watched the show. There's a TV in the dressing room."

When Cowell and Spears did meet, she was said to be "pretty vacant".