Cowell: 'Dannii, Cheryl aren't best pals'

Simon Cowell has admitted that X Factor's Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole are not "best friends".

The 49-year-old claimed that the pair's relationship has improved since last year, but joked that he does not expect to see them "on holiday together" in the future.

"Girls are girls, right - they all want to be the centre of attention," he told GMTV. "I don't think anyone has ever ended up as best friends.

"But they don't hate each other. In fact actually no, I think they like each other now...ish. They're not going to go on holiday together, but you know, they've got to do the job they're being paid to do - which is judge a talent show.

"But things have quietened down a bit, I think."

Speaking about reports that fourth judge Louis Walsh had his teeth whitened ahead of the new series, Cowell joked that the surgery had not been a total success.

"Louis had his teeth done. No, I'm being serious," he said. "He went to my dentist. It hasn't been the success he was hoping because whereas I use a white chart, he used a grey chart and I'm being serious, his teeth are straight but they are grey!"