New man at 60

good. You are going to see a lot of good things happening over the next few years for these peopl. The cream rises to the top.”

Vain

Meanwhile, Simon’s pal Louis Walsh poked fun at his new lifestyle – saying his transformation was kick-started by him looking like “Desperate Dan”.

Louis, 67, said: “He looked at last year’s X Factor and realised he had a fat face when he only wants a fat bank balance. Last year, he was Desperate Dan. Now he’s a different person. I don’t think Simon minds getting old but I don’t think he wants to look old. That Carly Simon song You’re So Vain was made for him. Now he looks like he did in the 80s – and still dresses like that too.”

Louis also said plans for his

60th bash sound toned down compared with his 40th and

50th. Guests at the lavish party for Simon’s 50th at Wrotham

Park, Hertfordshire, included

Kate Moss, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan.

Louis said: “It was quite over the top but Philip Green had organised it. This year will be nothing as pretentious.

“Lauren is organising it and it will be more normal with family and friends. I’ve been to all his parties and I’ll be at his 100th. We will both be there because Simon has found the secret of eternal youth!”

Simon axed Louis from X Factor last year, along with Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne, drafting in One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and Robbie Williams with wife Ayda Field. The show’s viewing figures have declined de over the years, from 14 million m at its peak to five million l ast year. But Louis is convinced this year’s celebrity version v will put it back on top.

Louis, who managed boy band ba Westlife, remains close to Simon despite his sacking. “Simon has been good to me,” he says. “He’s given me loads of advice and a job and he’s always loyal. We always have a laugh.

“We’ll be walking on to the X Factor set and he’ll say, ‘Darling, try to be interesting tonight.’ He makes me laugh so much.”

And Louis has underlined his loyalty to his pal by calling for Simon to be given a knighthood for his birthday. He said: “I can’t believe he’s not a Sir.

“He would love the title. He deserves it. Simon might be 60 but he won’t grow old gracefully. He loves life too much.”