Speaking to The Sun, Cowell said that Cheryl isn’t someone who is going out of her way to be skinny.

He said: “This is not someone who’s trying to make herself thin. I think she did pick up a bug.

“And I think the way she’s approaching what was addressed about her weight in a very open way – by saying she is thin and is trying to put on weight – is great.

“I don’t think she would have done that two years ago.”