Chico: 'Cowell is clever over twins'

Chico Slimani has claimed that Simon Cowell is secretly pleased by the impact of X Factor twins John and Edward.

The singer, who reached the quarter finals of the programme's 2005 series, suggested that Louis Walsh only put the brothers through to the live shows under Cowell's instructions.

Speaking on Live From Studio Five, Slimani explained: "I've been watching it and I have to say, when they came on, I thought, 'They can't possibly let them through'. Now Simon is many things, stupid he isn't. He's rung up, going, 'Louis, you're putting those kids through'. Why? The thing is, who are we talking about now?

"They get in the newspaper columns, they're getting people like us talking about them and they've got the kids behind them."

He added: "Can they sing? No. Are they going to win? No. Are they entertaining and do you switch on to see what they're going to do? Yes. Is it good for the show? Ker-ching, Simon's got it going on!"

Cowell described the twins' rendition of 'She Bangs' as "appalling" at the weekend. Meanwhile, Walsh has claimed that the music mogul is panicking over their popularity.