Cowell: 'Idol' arguments are not planned

Simon Cowell has denied that the arguments between the judges on American Idol are planned.

The music mogul insisted that "nothing is really premeditated" between himself and fellow panel members Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

He said: "We see each other normally 10 minutes before the show goes live on air. Nobody knows what they’re going to do, what they’re going to say, and I think it’s that unpredictability that makes this show different from the others."

Talking about how he plans to keep the show fresh after six series, he said: "Remind [ourselves] that we are not actors, that we’re here doing hopefully what we do in our day job. Remember that we’re making a reality show. Don’t take it too seriously. Don’t be politically correct, and try and say what [we] hope people at home are thinking, I guess."

He added: "We never go into this year-on-year with a master plan... We'll just try and do what we’ve done previously again and hope people like it, albeit that this year we’ll have hopefully some better talent as well."

American Idol airs on Thursday and Friday nights on ITV2 from January 17.