Music mogul Simon Cowell has admitted that he is "fascinated" by Britney Spears.

It has been speculated that the 'Toxic' singer is being lined up to fill one of the vacant X Factor USA judges' seats - with Cowell previously saying he was "flattered" by the link.

And he's since gushed even more about the pop superstar, telling Billy Bush's radio show in the US that he reckons Spears is full of resilience. He said:

"Well, I'm fascinated by her. The fact that she's still one of the most talked-about - not just popstars, but people in the world today - means that you've got this star power. This girl's got resilience and the fact that she's survived this and she's still hot, she's still having hit records and she's still controversial...there's a reason for that."

Speaking about a possible role for her on the X Factor USA, he added: "I would think that if she's managed to sustain in her family life a career which is tough, this is a walk in the park."