Music mogul Simon and his fianc Mezhgan have split, according to one Cowell's closest friends.

Zeta Graff, who met the X Factor boss back in 2004, told The Mirror at the end of February:

"Mezhgan was lovely but it was all too much for Simon. As soon as he hears the words 'stability' and 'future', I think it all became a bit too much.

"She was too needy, but he did try. Simon needs a woman who isn't defined by him, who has her own career or wealth. Someone who doesn't depend on him. But he and Mezhgan are still friends."

Simon and Mezhgan announced their engagement in February 2010, but rumours about their relationship have been circulating since an apparant split in September 2011.