No one can deny the impact that Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell has made. His acerbic put-downs and witty one-liners have sparked an international debate and at the same time earned him a legion of admirers. Cowell's own story has all the brutal honesty you'd expect. I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT... is as compulsive, entertaining and hard-hitting as his trademark insults. With tips and advice on becoming a star from the man who knows how to make it happen, this book is the ultimate through-the-keyhole view inside the music industry. But it wouldn't be complete without setting the record straight about those trousers, the gay rumours and the truth about the women in his life. In I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT... Simon also predicts the future for Will, Gareth and Darius as well as this year's Pop Idol winner. With the inside gossip on this year's Top Ten finalists and Simon's favourites to win, this is the only book for avid fans of the Pop Idol phenomenon.