The X Factor creator Simon Cowell has described former colleagues Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne as "great friends".

The mogul's comments come after Walsh and Osbourne's joint-stint on Celebrity Big Brother, during which they criticised their ex-boss for not keeping in touch with them.

Cowell's long-time Britain's Got Talent co-judge Amanda Holden then launched a passionate defence of him, sparking a war of words with Osbourne when she branded her "bitter and pathetic".

Osbourne clapped back with a list of her achievements, describing Holden as an "ill-informed sycophantic" - and now Cowell has given his verdict on the furore.

"If you put Sharon and Louis in the house, that's what you pay them for, they're going to be controversial," he told The Mirror. "I still consider Sharon and Louis really good friends, we could pick up the phone to each other tomorrow. I think that's probably one of the things they're upset about, because they can never get hold of me.

"Amanda is a great friend, but I really do believe Sharon and Louis are great friends as well. I don't have a phone but from what I heard, what they said about me was actually quite funny. And I probably will phone them both in the next week or so, because I haven't spoken to them for a while and it sounds like I should do.

"What would I like to say to them? 'How are you?' Whenever I meet them, see them, speak to them, it's like we've spoken yesterday. My honest opinion is I think we miss each other."

Cowell has also revealed that he is working on a new TV show with another former colleague from The X Factor, Cheryl Cole.