Apparently even Simon Cowell is affected by disappointment. Up until this point it seemed like the worst thing that had ever happened to him was the time he wasn't allowed to claim full ownership of the moon and the sun and the stars, but it seems like he's been equally upset by the failure of several of his TV shows.

Speaking to The Sun, Cowell said that 2011 was the year that he'd flown too close to the audience and his wings, made of Louis Walsh's baggy testicle skin, had melted under their disinterested frowns:

"I got a bit too cocky. We got a big wake-up call." 

"We went into 2011 thinking, 'It's all going to be easy' and of course it wasn't. It was the year my ego was put in check."

"Richard Branson is the sponsor of the show with Virgin. We are trying to work out a way so that the winner of the show gets to go up in the spacecraft and will be the first person to perform in space.

"I'm being serious. You could be the first singer or dog act, whatever, performing in space.

"I would go on the spaceship myself — you have to have a lot of training. I love the idea that, if they are up for it, then they have the option of performing in front of the whole planet in space.

"I think it's great. Of course we have to think about the details, I mean, if you're a juggler then we'll need to make heavier balls.

"But I will make it happen. If it had been a few years ago Susan Boyle could have been singing Unchained Melody in front of the whole planet. What does the winner of The Voice get?

"This is worth tens of millions of pounds, but Richard genuinely is up for doing it. I'm not winding you up, Richard would pay for it.

"It can't be compulsory for the winner, but it will happen."

"We all got a bit smug last year, I certainly got a bit too cocky. I ended 2010 on a real high, it was the Matt Cardle year — my favourite year — and the figures for X Factor were huge.

"I did get too arrogant, everyone does. When you have a very good year like I did in 2010 you get a bit cocky. You think you are great, then you get a bit of a smack.

"We went into 2011 thinking, 'It's all going to be easy' and of course it wasn't. It was a massive wake-up call. From BGT, to Red Or Black — me making these massive predictions in America.

"You're in the hands of the public and it's very unpredictable.

"Last year was the year my ego was put in check, yes. It wasn't a terrible year, but 2010 was spectacular." 

"It feels like I'm back at the beginning again. I am optimistic — but not so arrogant, I'd say."

"I remember the end of 2010 thinking something doesn't feel right about 2011. I genuinely thought they'd be glad to see the back of me for 12 months.

"I didn't think it did me any harm staying away for a while. You always want to go to a party where you get an invite. I do feel this year there is a lot more confidence. That might be because of the Olympics and the diamond jubilee.

"Maybe there is a turn happening. I know times are tough, but something has happened within 12 months and I do feel more positive at the moment."

"With 2012, everyone's starting to feel a lot more optimistic than last year, so I had no qualms about coming back. I'm actually looking forward to the auditions for a change. Normally I hate them.

"I genuinely like doing BGT. It was frustrating doing half and half last year — watching the auditions, not necessarily agreeing with all the decisions and then having to judge them in the finals. But I believe that I can find a star."

Susan Boyle in space? Yeah, things are certainly back to normal.