Leona Lewis has laughed off rumors of a romance with her mentor Simon Cowell, because he is too old.

Cowell, 48, discovered 22-year-old Lewis as a judge on The X Factor, and is masterminding her quest for musical success - but that’s as far as their relationship goes.

She says, “He’s a real gentleman and really supportive - he’s very popular with the ladies. I didn’t fancy him, he’s old enough to be my dad! But a lot of my friends who met him thought he was lovely.”