Cowell: 'Gardiner is a nasty piece of work'

Simon Cowell has accused Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner of being a "nasty piece of work".

The X Factor judge said Gardiner was the more vicious of the pair because he "ruined people's careers".

Gardiner told Star magazine: "I met Simon and he said to me, 'Ah Mr Gardiner, I've caught your show Dancing On Ice and what a nasty piece of work you are!' And I said, 'That's the pot calling the kettle black, Simon!'

"He said I was nastier than he was. And I said that's not true, because he destroys people's dreams. He turned back to me and said, 'You destroy people's careers!'"

But Gardiner conceded that he is less popular with the public, saying: "Because I know my opinion and express it, I'm called a nasty queen. Simon is called a genius. No one calls him a nasty queen."

Cowell has been dubbed 'TV's Mr Nasty' for his harsh put-downs on the ITV1 talent show.