Simon Cowell thinks there are five acts on 'The X Factor' that could go on to sell "a lot of records".
Simon Cowell with partner Lauren Silverman at the Music Industry Trusts Awards
The 56-year-old music mogul has confessed he's already spotted a handful of contestants he believes will be successful recording artists following their time on the show.
Speaking at the Music Industry Trusts Awards at London's Grosvenor Hotel last night (02.11.15), he said: "Most importantly I've seen three, four, five artists that could not only win, but will go on to sell records, a lot of records."
And the tough-talking judge - who has discovered successful artists including One Direction, Leona Lewis and Olly Murs on the talent show - revealed his mind is never far away from business when he was asked to comment on former 'X Factor' winner Ben Haenow's progress in the charts.
Simon - who also gushed that his own special "talent" was making his son Eric with partner Lauren Silverman - added: "The album is number one on pre-sale, so I'm happy. (But) I think the record came out a week too early."
Elsewhere, the music-mogul insisted he's not afraid to shake up the show's format if it becomes "shambolic" again.
Asked if he's planning to make changes after the new Judges' Houses failed to impress, he added: "Of course, that's my job [but I also need to] focus on what we need to do, which is make the contestants better. I think some of them could look a bit better but I'm not going to say who. But that's part of the fun of making the show every week."
Tagged in Leona Lewis Simon Cowell One Direction