After nearly eighteen months away, Pop Idol has once again ettled firmly into a Saturday night must-see TV slot. Staple television for all those getting ready for a night out on the town or a night in with their mates.

And this November will see the launch of the official Pop Idol video game for the PlayStation 2 and PC. It comes complete with a virtual Simon Cowell, loads of his famous advice - recorded by the man himself - plus a super wardrobe jam-packed full of the latest fashions with which to style your idol.

Last week we sat down for a chat with Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell for a chat about the game and how he feels about being transformed into a video game character!

So what do you think about the game and being turned into a virtual Simon?

I think the game’s very good. I really do. I thought it was going to be very successful once I’d met the guys and they’d explained the concept. I actually thought it would be a hit and now having played it, I think it’s going to be a huge hit. It’s a great game, it feels like you’re in the competition and it’s fun, it’s funny. It’s a bloody good game. And it’s got me in it, what more could you ask for?

How much creative input did you have – did you script all the insults?

I’ve never ever rehearsed a line, or written down anything that I say on the show because then you turn it from a reality show into a pantomime and the public know. I was very aware of that so I sat down - I had no idea how many lines I was going to say for the game. So I did every single line as we went through the recording and it worked. Some of it I remembered from things I had said to people or I imagined certain artists if they were there. So, in the game, they’re are my words, which is important.

What do you think about the look of the virtual Simon?

You know it’s me and that’s the important thing. When I played the game for the first time I was crap! Well, I wasn’t very good. I was even insulted by myself!

If you had a computer game that was different from Pop Idol, like the ‘Simon Cowell Computer Game’. What would you be doing in the game?

It would be me killing people. Just that. With loads of different weapons. Just tons of guns! In fact that would be quite a good game!

Are there any hints, cheats or tips you can give us for this game?

I think it’s the same as when you come to an audition. Practice makes perfect. You’re not going to be very good first time.

Do you think Reuben winning American Idol changed your view on singers who have good voices but don’t have that Idol look about them?

Totally, to be honest with you after American Idol 1, I made a conscious decision this time that I wasn’t going to be a censor any longer. I still have opinions, there’s nothing wrong with having opinions. But what I didn’t want to do was to discriminate people about the way they looked or their weight. I will always discriminate people against personality because I think personality is key.

Everybody saw the show a few weeks ago when you were deciding whether to put Michelle into the final fifty - you and Pete were having a row over talent over image. Pete was very much fighting for image and you coming up on the side of talent.

Pete’s problem was he was afraid that Michelle was going to win the competition. That to me is contradicting his own argument because if the public decide that Michelle is their Pop Idol what’s wrong with that? Who are we to say that you can only have a certain kind of singer? I think we are entitled to stop boring people entering the competition, because boring people don’t sell records. I think the days of saying: “This is what a Pop Idol will look like”, thank God are over. And it makes the competition more interesting.

Are you not slightly worried with doing the third series of American Idol that the novelty is really going to wear off? Does it not worry you that people will think: “Oh God it’s the third series”?

I am aware every hour I record of Pop Idol and American Idol that people think the same thing. What can you do to make this hour of television entertaining? And it’s always down to who turns up. When you watch the audition sequences for American Idol 3, it goes way beyond what you and I have ever seen before. As long as you’ve got that madness then you’ve got a show. If everybody turns up and knows the game and admits they’re crap or they’re all just boring then you haven’t got a show. Luckily it was reversed.

Have you ever looked back at the early stages of an audition process and regretted putting somebody through to the next round?

No.

How strict are you if someone is 50/50, borderline, when you don’t know whether you will put them through, you don’t know whether you are going to kick them out?

It all depends on whether I like them or not. If I think they’re an idiot, I’ll say no. If I like them as a person, I’ll put them through.

What do you think about the quality of the Pop Idol 2 contestants compared to Pop Idol 1?

I tell you one thing for sure; the girls are much better this year. That is for sure. The girls this year compared to Pop Idol 1 are in a different league.

Did you realise early on how famous you were going to become through Pop/American Idol especially in the States?

I knew what I was letting myself in for, that I’d become infamous for having a big mouth. I always thought that Pete would be the main target, which is why I wanted him there to deflect off me! I actually think he is worse than I am!

Are you enjoying fame?

You have to weigh up what it brings you. Famous for the sake of being famous, well who cares. If it makes you more money and opens more doors for you, which it does, then there are more up sides than down sides.

Pop Idol - The Official Video Game is released in November.