Simon Cowell regrets not snapping up Take That for his record label.

The music mogul told the Radio Times that he initially turned down the pop group in the 1990s.

They later signed to rivals RCA and became one of Britain's most popular bands.

Cowell said: "I was just starting my record label and I remember this guy came into my office and played me the songs, and I said no.

"And then about two months later, I started to see them written in all the teen magazines, which in those days were important, so I called and the manager and apologised, and I said, 'Actually I've changed my mind, I will sign them.' And that was it.

"It was a stupid mistake. It was pretty bad when they exploded...but it happens."

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Watch Take That during the 1990s below: