Cowell instantly forgets 'Idol' auditions

Simon Cowell has admitted that he is unable to remember anything about the American Idol auditions when they are over.

The show's judge explained that travelling to various cities in the early stages of the competition had left each set of hopefuls a "blur" in his mind.

He said: "I can’t remember who came from which city after I’ve done the auditions. I never can. I watch the shows back then it all comes flooding back. But I can’t, at this point, differentiate, for instance, Dallas or Philadelphia. It’s all a bit of a blur to me still."

However, he added that fellow judge Paula Abdul could remember everything "amazingly", saying: "She has like a photographic memory for these things. Within about two weeks of doing the audition, I can’t remember anything."

The seventh series of American Idol airs on Thursday and Friday nights on ITV2 from January 17.