Simon Cowell plans to get in touch with 'great friends' Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh

Simon Cowell has insisted Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh are still "great friends" of his and he wants to repair their rift.

The music mogul was mocked by the pair during their recent appearance on 'Celebrity Big Brother', which prompted a war-of-words between Sharon and 'Britain's Got Talent' judge Amanda Holden, but the 'X Factor' boss doesn't bear them any ill will and admitted he should probably get in touch with the duo.

Simon - who ditched his mobile phone eight years ago - told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "If you put Sharon and Louis in the house, that's what you pay them for, they're going to be controversial. I still consider Sharon and Louis really good friends, we could pick up the phone to each other tomorrow. I think that's probably one of the things they're upset about, because they can never get hold of me.

"Amanda is a great friend, but I really do believe Sharon and Louis are great friends as well. I don’t have a phone but from what I heard, what they said about me was actually quite funny. And I probably will phone them both in the next week or so, because I haven't spoken to them for a while and it sounds like I should do.

"What would I like to say to them? 'How are you?' Whenever I meet them, see them, speak to them, it's like we've spoken yesterday. My honest opinion is I think we miss each other."

Meanwhile, Simon also revealed he is hoping to team up with former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl for a new TV talent show because he loved working with her on 'The X Factor'.

He said: “Cheryl was brilliant on the show, great to work with, really good fun - and there might be something coming up where we might be working together, funnily enough.

"I can't tell you much at the moment. I don't think it will be on a streaming service, this one, and it won't be 'X Factor'. But it will be TV because Cheryl is great on TV. She's fantastic.

"Just as Sharon and Louis were as well - they both did a brilliant job. I have a lot to be thankful for with both of them.

"The project I'm working with Cheryl on is in very early stages, and until it's signed I'm really superstitious. Once it's signed I couldn't care less, but until then I try to keep things confidential."