(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Simon Cowell says Hugh Grant is the reason he never goes to the cinema.

Despite getting invites to hundreds of premieres Simon has revealed that he prefers to stay at home with a DVD.

The music mogul admits the last time movie he went out to watch was Music & Lyrics. In the romantic comedy Hugh Grant plays a washed-up eighties singer-songwriter and many of the cinema audience spotted crossovers between his character and Simon.

"The last time I went to the cinema publicly was for a movie where Hugh Grant was a failing singer songwriter," Simon told British newspaper The Sun. "Some people recognised me and every time his character sang a song in the movie, everyone turned around to look at me. I've never been so embarrassed in all my life."

Simon is best known as a judge on TV talent shows such as American Idol, Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor, which he has just launched in the US. His brutal comments and honesty have made him one of the most successful TV personalities of all time.

However, life hasn't always been easy for Simon.

Despite creating several hits in the early eighties, he was forced to move back in with his parents after getting into debt.

He found success again later as a producer. (C) Cover Media