Simon Cowell's first withering putdown – aged five

X Factor judge Simon Cowell has built a career from making scathing, no-holds-barred comments on the talents, or rather lack thereof, of wannabe pop stars. It seems he started honing his skills at a young age. Five, to be precise, reports the Daily Mirror. Apparently his "first withering putdown" was directed to his mother when she asked if he liked her in a new hat. "You look like a poodle," came the response. Not vintage, but it was a start.