By DEBRA KILLALEA

Last updated at 16:03 01 March 2008

X-Factor boss Simon Cowell has revealed the real reason he will never marry girlfriend Terri Seymour - because he fears she will "do a Heather Mills on him" and leave him broke.

The music mogul said his partner of five years was "great" but admitted the concept of marriage in the entertainment industry was a scary and unrealistic one.

"I don't believe in marriage, certainly not in this business," the 48-year-old told the Mirror.

Scroll down for more...

"The truth is that you get married and in a year or two they clean you out! It's just not going to work.

"I know a lot of people going through divorces now and once the lawyers get involved it starts to get nasty."

Fortunately for Simon, Terri, accepts this and his 33-year-old partner has also dismissed the rumours that there is more to his on-screen relationship with fellow X-Factor judge Dannii Minogue.

"There were rumours about Dannii and I," he said.

"If you work with cute girls you get that. But I don't have to smooth anything over with Terri. She understands."

Cowell also squashed rumours about Sharon Osbourne leaving the hit ITV1 show and revealed that her new seven-figure contract is already in the post.

But he admitted the on-going row between Minogue and Osbourne made great viewing.

Scroll down for more....

Missing out on Brit award was the best thing for Leona Lewis, says Cowell as it 'will make her stronger'

"The truth is we have offered all of the judges new contracts to come back but I deliberately haven't pushed it," he said.

"Sharon is a handful, but she's what makes the show interesting. If someone doesn't want to come back then that's their decision."

"It's the two girls who need to sort it out," Simon admits.

"It's with them that the tension lies. If they both return next series they will have dressing rooms at opposite ends of the corridor."

Scroll down for more...

Cowell says he feels pop star Britney Spears has brought her recent troubles on herself

Cowell also took time to have a swipe at Britney Spears saying she has brought her "current situation upon herself".

He also revaled he was glad previous X-Factor winner Leona Lewis had missed out on a Brit Award as it "was the best thing that could have happened to her".

"She had the biggest selling single of last year so it's a mockery that she never won a Brit. This knockback will make her stronger," he said"

And Cowell left his nicest comments for struggling Amy winehouse, who he described as "an amazing talent".

"Given the chance I'd take her on, but I don't think she'd work with me," he said.

"If I had been managing her I would have got her into rehab from day one. Then maybe none of this nonsense would have happened."