Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole in X Factor 'brat' spat

SIMON Cowell and Cheryl Cole exchanged sharp words and scathing put-downs in the new series of X Factor, which started last night.

Sparks flew when Cowell branded the Girls Aloud star a "brat" during an early audition and made jokes about her catty behaviour by putting out a saucer of milk for her.

After Cole told one disappointed group they should consider a career in children's television, Cowell sarcastically demanded: "Have we got any cream?"

When he caught her pulling faces at him, he told her: "You're a childish little brat." The pair also exchanged words backstage.

Geri Halliwell stood in for Dannii Minogue on the Glasgow show and annoyed her fellow judges with her non-stop chatter. Her long-winded approach left them lost for words as they struggled to get a word in.