Simon Cowell: The Unauthorized Biography

by Chas Newkey-Burden

Love him or loathe him, Simon Cowell is arguably the most influential player in the British entertainment industry and one of Britain's most successful exports. After a humble start in the post room at EMI, his meteoric rise began when he became a top A&R executive, signing huge acts from Westlife and Five to Robson & Jerome. Fame and a television career followed when he became a judge in the TV talent shows Pop Idol and American Idol and subsequently created the hit shows The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, watched by millions every year. His trademark blunt honesty coupled with his extraordinary business savvy has made him a household name - but what do we really know about this charismatic and sharp-tongued man? In Simon Cowell Chas Newkey-Burden finds out, interviewing friends and old colleagues, and lifting the lid on the professional and private life of one of Britain's most eligible batchelors.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Chas Newkey-Burden is a British journalist and author. His books include The Reduced History of Britain, Great Email Disasters and Not In My Name: A Compendium Of Modern Hypocrisy (co-written with Julie Burchill). He has also written unauthorised biographies of Simon Cowell, Paris Hilton, Amy Winehouse, Alexandra Burke and six official publications for Arsenal football club.

He has written for publications including The Guardian, Four Four Two, Total Football, Time Out, Attitude and The Big Issue; and internet sites including Ynetnews, The First Post and Guardian Blogs. A former Contributing Editor to Loaded magazine and former editor of the football website icons.com, where he was also Dennis Bergkamp's official biographer. Interviewees include David Beckham, Ricky Gervais, Frank Lampard, Rachel Stevens and James Bourne.

Newkey-Burden has discussed his books, football news and the Middle East on TV and radio shows including Sky News, CNN, BBC Breakfast News, The Today Programme on Radio 4, Five Live Breakfast, TalkSport, Capital Gold and BBC Radio London. He was featured on the BBC 2 documentary Cold War Kids, the Sky One show Celebrities On Heat and The Biography Channel and Fuse Television's documentaries on Amy Winehouse.

Newkey-Burden has a blog, entitled OyVaGoy, in which he describes himself as 'philosemitic' and posts opinions firmly in support of the state of Israel, and critical of those he perceives as being against Israel.
In July 2008, the British satirical magazine Private Eye reported that Newkey-Burden had posted positive reviews of his own books on the Amazon.co.uk online bookstore.

Reviews

[Karen]

Really good read. Simon Cowell came across really well which was good as this was an unauthorised biography

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a present from one of my Year Six leavers in the Summer. I really enjoyed reading it!

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring....Didn't finish it

[Jodi Wray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not as good as I thought it was going to be which was dissapointing, am pleased i got it in the January sales and didnt pay full price!