The X Factor has had a troubled year, with viewing figures yo-yoing, and rumours of changes behind the scenes flying around daily.
But the problems really came to a head a few weeks ago when Simon Cowell took a nasty fall at his home, resulting in him being rushed to hospital.
He was forced to miss the first live shows of the series, and there was a worry he wouldn’t be able to return at all – luckily that didn’t prove to be the case.
It turns out there was at least a silver lining to Simon’s fall, in the form of a reconciliation with old friend Sinitta.
The So Macho singer made an appearance on Lorraine today, and the subject of her fallout with Simon was of course brought up.
The reason the once-close pair stopped talking was Sinitta’s fury at being snubbed for this year’s “Judges’ Houses” segment on The X Factor.
Instead of appearing at Simon’s mansion in the south of France, Sinitta was replaced by Cheryl – which was a huge hit with fans, who loved Cheryl and Simon’s banter.
Sinitta said: “I’m over it now. I must admit I was a bit unladylike when I talked about my… I told them to kiss my black… thing [bum]. But it’s ok, the friendship is more important than the show.”
The singer then made a joke at Simon’s expense, before revealing it was Simon’s accident that had brought them back together.
She quipped: “First of all, it wasn’t me – I didn’t push him! But that did actually help heal the rift because you go, ‘Oh my gosh, something’s happened’ and then I was concerned about him.”
Sinitta was certainly furious at Simon earlier in the year when she found out she was being replaced by Cheryl for her spot at the Judges’ Houses.
She told the Sun at the time: “I will always love Simon. He is like a father figure meets brother figure and ex-lover figure to me, and of course my mentor for over three decades. But right now he can kiss my black [bleep].
“Simon promised me the job for life and said he didn’t ever want to do it with anyone else.
“Last year I had a breast cancer scare and was having a biopsy done so I missed it and this year I was excited to be clear, healthy and fearless and they did this.”