He [Simon Cowell] is actually very lovely in real life. We share the same interests, and he shares my love for animals as well. - Leona Lewis

I was at a really low point, thinking of going to university and doing a course because the music thing just wasn't happening for me. But I went on the show and...

My friends are the ones I've had since primary school. They're really cool and such a good bunch of people. They came to every one of my gigs before all of this happened, you know; they were there in the smoky pubs, wherever.

Whatever happens to me from now on, I can't ever imagine wanting to distance myself from The X Factor, or having a bad word to say about it, because the show opened doors for me that had never opened before.