Cowell's furry friends

Simon Cowell may be Mr Nasty to pop star wannabes but he is sweetness and light when it comes to animals.

11:42 18 February 2005

Simon Cowell may be Mr Nasty to pop star wannabes but he is sweetness and light when it comes to animals.

The Pop Idol and X Factor judge has joined the campaign to save the RSPCA shelter near his home in Sussex, which is threatened with closure, after his mum called him in Los Angeles.

"He is very upset about this," an RSPCA supporter told the Daily Star.

Cowell's tenderhearted feelings failed to stretch to his fellow judges however, as he lashed out at X Factor co-star Sharon Osbourne.

He said he preferred American Idol judge Paula Abdul better, saying Ozzy's wife was always spreading stories in the press.

"I prefer Paula. Sharon gobs off to the press all the time," the Sun reported Cowell as saying.

"If you're going to say something, say it to their face."