Simon’s ‘as inspirational as Mother Teresa’

Posted by Jane Murphy

Oh dear - this won’t make Simon Cowell’s humungous ego any smaller, will it?

The high-trousered talent show mogul has been voted one of the world’s all-time greatest leaders in a new survey of 1,000 teenagers, commissioned by the Prince’s Trust.

Simon shared eighth place on the list, alongside life-saving nun Mother Teresa and wife-bothering monarch Henry VIII. Now, there’s an unlikely trio if ever I saw one…

Still, don’t be too alarmed. The teens’ top three leaders were civil rights activist Martin Luther King, US president Barack Obama and former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela.

What’s more, 70% of those polled said they were more likely to be inspired by someone they knew, rather than a celebrity - while two in three believed there were more celebrities setting a bad example than a good one today.

But is Mr Cowell really a great leader? Are today’s teens actually more influenced by TV stars than they are by politicians? Tell us what you think.

Pictures: PA

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Comments

[M]

What they didnt tell you was that the 1000 teenagers were at Princes Trust Camp during Mushroom season!. . . What an embarrassment our country has become!!!

[old salt]

This is why britain is as rotten as it is .a big headed geek like cowell,feeding the stupid morons that think he is the bees knees,and to compere him with people like mother theresa,is nothing short of a crime.Wake up you shitheads who put these so called greats on a pedastle,get real.

[Jimbo]

Simon Cowell a leader????
Another sad example of what modern life is like in this country now. You simply cannot compare him to Mother Teresa, she was a saint. Simon Cowell is just a smug, self-centred moron, who has managed to con his way through society. I fear for the future with him around. How do I emigrate lol??
P.S. It's not jealously mac. How can you be jealous of a prat like him?????

[Michael]

And please stop blaming it on my fellow teens, I don't think they know any better, you older folks are all correct except for one thing, blaming it on age, isn't that a bit like blaming it on race or wealth or something basically, ain't that saying someone is wrong for invalid reasons, it's called DISCRIMINATION mate, it is not good, if I am correct, and I'm not sure so don't have a go at me if I am wrong, isn't that something people are trying to get rid of, just saying.

[Michael]

Simon Cowell has become a nicer, more generous person recently. But he can still do better, and this is coming from a teenager, a 13 year old boy, so don't blame it on age DM and Dave because I wouldn't call him a leader, and his far away from Mother Theresa but, with that in mind, I don't think any of us can match the good deeds that Theresa did, not at the moment anyway. And overall, Simon has become nicer in the past one to three years however I don't believe he would be able to cope with the pressures of being a leader, then again, Gordon Brown's not doing well either, but I am not sure anyone else in the current Gov would do good either.

[Angela]

I think Simon Cowell is a lovely and genuine man, he tells it as it is, I think his judgements are fair and accurate. I wouldn't rate him anywhere near the same league as Mother Theresa, but he's good at his job.

[smelly cat]

u smell reely good

[Mark Surts]

It is sad state of affairs when so called "celebs" and others like him are even voted in !! Give us a break !

[mac]

i think your all just jelous... especailly you..govantee... i mean fair enough, the man pretty much has no talent, but i love that about him... he's a legend, a talentless legend but a legend never the less...we should vote him in as next prime minister.. he's greedy, minipulitive, smug, smarmy and an all round dictator.. no different then from any other politician, but at least he'll be honest about it....

[Ian D]

Oh dear! How sad.

[charlie]

The fact that Simon Cowell made the list says more about the sad shallow chavs who voted for him than the man himself, who did not ask to be put in this ridiculous position and I suspect his usual smugness is replaced by embarrassment over this.

[mac]

yeah, thanks for that govantee.... you sure not a member of the government????

[govantee]

the mans a talentless idiot, and people who think he is anything else (and theres a few of them) are nothing more than morons!!!!!

[simon cowell]

I absolutely agree, Simon is a great leader, with a fantastic sense of style and sophistication too. (also, it's as plain as day that he's got a thing going on with Cheryl Cole cos she really fancies him.)

[mac]

ooooh, i say go for it.. let simon be prime minister, i'll tell ya what, things would probably turn around quite sharply.... no more MP's with second homes, no more immagration lies about how the figures went up so rapidly, and no more bankers with millions to spare...if people slate simon cowell i can understand, he's n ot very talented in most respects apart from making money...good for him.. wish i was more like him as i'm useless with money...

[Len Watson]

I only wish that Mr Cowell has enough common sense to be embarrased

[Davey L]

The truth about Mother T was that (according to her biographer) she was a selfish multimillionaire with no concern for anybody except herself. This has been well documented and proven. A real selfish item. Yep, she and Callow are one and the same. Callow has made great fortunes out of an area of showbiz that is NOT entertainment. His dross is proof of the massive dumbing down of telly. Bet you can't name at least three successful winners of this tawdry rubbish masquerading as entertainment. No, neither do I want to either.

[Marki Boy]

I would rather have two sheets of toilet paper than Cowell.You can get some use out of the bog roll

[D Folkard]

Just another example of the total lack of values prevalent in modern society.

[Arrogant Prat]

Supercillious Arrogant Prat Just like Tony Bliar who wants to destroy Europe just like he destroyed Britain.

[Delboy]

Oh dear !!! These obviously thick, uneducated teenagers will be running this country in a few years. Perhaps they will call on that Cowell geezer as a consultant on international relations.

[Fona]

What a world's leader in what, Lies! could not give a truthful account on Cheryl's performance - if she had been a contestant he would have said what the whole viewing public were thinking!!!!!!!!!!

[anon]

can't believe you'd even consider simon cowell, now jeremy clarkson theres another debate!!!

[stephen]

As far as I can see, Simon Cowell is one of the prime reasons why the music industry is in such a bad state and producing so much rubbish these days. Why does someone with so little talent feel he knows so much about talent???? The sooner his influence moves away from the music and television industry the better it will be for talented individuals.

[SSK]

Leadership stems from diplomacy. Come on guys…. Do you seriously think that this guy has any of that. Just imagine the thousands of people he has distressed in order to gain his reputation.

[tbd]

Don't people who post comments on here get awfully uptight about everything. It's like reading the Daily Mail.

[Mike Davey]

Can't think of anything bad enough to say but I agree with the majority of other readers-This is an insult to Mother Teresas memory

[Terry]

Seems to me the 1000 teenagers interviewed are not smart enough or intelligent enough to understand the questions asked , Simon Cowell on the same ranking as Mother Teresa , give me a break

[Steve]

So this is the considered opinion of teenagers, who in a few years time (or have perhaps already), will form part of the highest exam results ever (for the umpteenth year in a row)?

I despair.

[Anne]

Please DON'T EVER compare Simon Cowell to a pure beautiful soul such as Mother Teresa

[TW]

Well, that just goes to prove the depths of stupidity that we have reached! Leader my life.

[tony]

what a joke, all he thinks about is the "bottom line" for himself.Sheer greed on 2 legs !!!!!!

[katie]

So what if teenagers find him something to aspire to. Simon Cowell wasn't always the multi-millionaire he is now - he has come through his life with knocks and been bankrupt and back home with his mother. He has built his life systematically and probably ruthlessly like lots of other very successful business people. Good for him if people aspire to be like him and look up to him. He is conceited yes, but there is no harm in him and I know he also does a great deal of good with his money. He also enjoys it immensely which I also find refreshing; he works hard and plays hard - so what? What is wrong with people that they must castigate every individual that is successful and enjoys the spoils that come with it. Please don't make me laugh with the 'exploitation' routine of the contestants on his various shows; they know what they're getting with him and I expect he looks them all in the eyes when he spells it out for them as well. They still come in their thousands for their chance. I admire him greatly; i'm just glad i'm not married to him!!

[Gav]

Simon Cowell?! No way!! Just yet another over rated guy in the public eye. Why do we worship such stupid people? What is the world coming to.

[Mochales4ever]

Perdon??This "only himself egoist conceited boring moron" a leader?Of whom?Maybe of the beneficiaries of his charitable £1million birthday party?Just like the Calcutta sister!One day leaders were the likes of Churchill.This jewel probably thinks he’s even better than them

[john]

A 1000 teenagers eh?
Just shows the quality of
our education system!

[GJ]

This man is no leader, just another in a very long line of media constructs, who's been awarded far more power and public exposure than he deserves. More fool the gullible public and the media moguls that encourage him!

[geordieboy]

actually this idea is no more worrying than "the grinning idot" Tony Blair becoming EU president and lets face it our present UK leaders are not exactly good role models.
at least Mr Cowell would probably have told the bankers and MP's a few home truths and not given away billions of our taxes to fat cat bankers hmmmm

[JON]

your are seriously kidding....!!!

[keef]

simon cowell should not be mentioned in the same breath as mother teresa-whats he done for the world? sums up all thats wrong with the u.k today- ignorant dumbing down of the population- i despair of the future!

[Martyn]

Leader my a***. He's everything that's wrong about TV today.

Why does anyone ever ask who's going to win X Factor?

There's only one winner every time, and that's Cowell.

[Graham]

Just how low are the aspirations in life of those who voted for Simon Cowell?

[BIG AL]

How On earth can he be compaired to Mother Teresa.

Mr Cowell is a Supercilious twit only interested in earning lots of dollars, off the back of a semi illiterate UK & US public

[liz]

To rank him alongside Mother Theresa is an absolute joke. She worked selflessly for the sake of others, he "works" for others but purely for self. Enough said and a total insult to her memory but given that this is a survey amonst teenagers, it just shows what is important to society now and that is sadly just money and not about other people.

[eli]

You must be kidding - this man is only interested in one thing and that is making himself money. Smug and arrogant with it.

[steve]

This man is only interested in power, greed and ownership, he offers no moral guidance whatsoever. Please don't insult us by putting these dumb polls on the home pages of the internet.

[Linda]

I AGREE WITH WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING. Having said that, most of the so called talent on X Factor is rubbish and he tells most of them so. I have stopped watching it because I can't stand most of the acts. It's a complete farce and yet SC continues to make so much money out of it. There are too many so called celebrities out there nowadays making money for nothing and people seem to lap it up. FOOLS.

[Ells]

What the public respect Simon for is his honesty. Something that should be evident in a good leader and something seriously lacking in those that we currently have.

[Raymond]

Simon Cowell a leader? You have got be joking! Please someone tell me it's the 1st of April....oh come on somebody, pretty please

[steve pickover]

A complete joke. Sure he's successful and popular amongst some, but hardly a leader.

[joe]

HA. HA. WHAT A SMUG GIT HE IS NEVER EVER WATCH THE STUPID SHOW, HIM JUDGING NO HOPERS IN HIS LAST SHOWS OVER 2 YEARS HE WAS SO STUPID LOOKING NO SMILE DOUBT EVERY SINGER NOW IN HIS NEW LOOK WITH CHESHIRE CAT GRIN LIKING EVERY HE SEE ON SHOW ITS STUPID NOT REAL HOW PEOPLE CAN WATCH AND THINK ITS FOR REAL COME ON I RATHER WATCH POP EYE AND HAVE A REAL LAUGH

[Woowoo]

Leader of what?
Munipulator more like?

Shocking insight into modern society!

[J Woods]

They are having a laugh....come on folks it`s one big joke.

[dave]

this just shows what tiny minds todays teenagers have got, they have been brought up on rubbish music which has numbed thier minds they think ( or he does ) that he's some kind of god if you read the blogs on x factor. i recently went to see the stage play of we will rock you at the begining it says " simon cowell sent from hell to destroy rock music" how right they are. now we will see the tossers saying how wonderful he is on here------- wait for it.

[paul]

this guy is a smug power crazed creep who pretends to be helping others to better his own inadequate selfish greedy meaningles life

[DM]

What another sad indictment of todays society. The trouble is these teenagers who voted actually believe that he is "a leader". All he does for me is inspire me to switch off the TV and go do something else. He's in my top ten for "celebrity despite no personality" list.

[tom]

ridiculous! he's no leader. more of a greedy (if talented) rich and smug man