Music and television mogul Simon Cowell has hit back at rumours about his sexuality and claimed he would have no reason to hide it if he was gay.

The Britain's Got Talent judge said he is bemused why everyone thinks he prefers male company and said he would simply admit it if that were the case.

As part of the Sun's latest instalment of Tom Bower's scandalous biography, the author also said Cowell's mother Julie would not "freak out" about his sexual orientation.

Rumours about the TV personality's sexuality have emerged following speculation about his relationship with former colleague Dannii Minogue.

The pair were said to have been involved in a brief fling when the Australian beauty joined the judging panel of the hugely popular talent show the X Factor.

Although Cowell has stressed that the book is unofficial, investigative journalist Bower was reportedly allowed access to the star's private yacht and given an AAA pass at the X Factor USA studios.