'I haven’t met the right woman yet!' Simon Cowell jokes... in X Factor segment taped BEFORE girlfriend's pregnancy was revealed

His forthright opinions have made him a fortune.
But on this occasion, Simon Cowell just might regret his words.
On Thursday night's U.S. X Factor he identified with a single man in his 40s who had never married because he had yet to meet the love of his life.

'I am single, I just haven't found the right girl yet,' the 45-year-old Neal Macomber told the judges before he auditioned on the TV show. 

Still searching: Simon Cowell admitted on Thursday night's pre-recorded episode of The X Factor that he had not yet found the right woman

Commiserating: Simon's confession was inspired by 45-year-old single contestant Neal Macomber

'OK,' said Simon, smirking, before an audience of millions.
I know how you feel.'
'Hear that, ladies?' Demi Lovato replied. 

Moment Simon Cowell reveals how he'd never met the right woman

Serenading: The bachelor tried to woo the female judges with his crooning

Sympathiser: Demi Lovato tried to help the middle-aged guy

The auditions took place before Cowell discovered he was expecting a baby with his friend's wife, Lauren Silverman - whom he is now said to be planning to wed.

And that was confirmed when producers hastily ran a scrolling banner across the screen, accompanied by a voiceover, that read: 'This performance was previously recorded. We are pleased to report that Mr Cowell has indeed found the right girl. Best of luck, Simon.'

Simon recently hinted that he will marry New York socialite Lauren, who is now divorced from ex, Andrew Silverman.

A different story: Simon's commiseration with Neal came before the discovery of his girlfriend Lauren Silverman's pregnancy

Blast from the past: Keith Beukelaer auditioned after failing miserably ten years ago on American Idol

'I try and take my positivity and make it contagious to others,' said general contractor Neal, from California, who insisted he wasn't too old to chase his dream.

His rendition of Everybody Talks by Neon Trees caused Kelly's mouth to gape open.

And Demi looked terrified when he crouched down and stared at her with manic eyes and sang: 'Hey Demi, give me all your love.'

'No!' she said before squirming around in her seat.

A decade ago: Keith pictured ten years prior on American Idol, where he sang a horrific rendition of Like A Virgin

Notorious: Simon called the young man 'the worst singer in the world' back when he first auditioned all those years ago

That didn't deter Neal - who ran into the audience and got up close to several females, none of whom looked especially pleased.

And there was more awkwardness when he stroked Demi's hair after he stopped singing. She clung on to fellow judge Paulina Rubio for support.

'She's like a cute little poodle,' Neal said.

'It was like something out of a lunatic asylum,' said Simon. 'It's your eyes and that smile. If this was a movie it would be like Nightmare On Elm Street or something. You're the slasher who sings while they slash.'

He remembers: When the professional cashier entered the stage Simon whispered to Demi that he recognised the man

New genre: The tenacious artist announced that he was a rapper now

'And if they don't [slash], they pet your head,' said a nervous looking Demi.

Neal insisted it was just his 'high energy' before all the judges voted not to send him through to the next round at the Los Angeles audition.

It comes after 'creepy' 19-year-old Wesley Mountain got very close to Kelly Rowland on the previous night's show.

In another potentially awkward moment for Simon, he came face to face with a singer who tried out for American Idol ten years ago.

A ticket to LA: Keith celebrated after his rendition of Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot won the judges

Keith Beukelaer, 29, a cashier from Long Island, New York, famously saw Simon brand him 'possibly the worst singer in the world' following his tuneless rendition of Madonna's Like A Virgin.

But he vowed to get his revenge, by making it through to the next round of Simon's new show.

'Ten years later I am back, as a rapper,' he said. 'I've done a lot of hard work.'

'He was on American Idol,' Simon whispered to Kelly as he bounded on stage in an eye-popping tie-dye outfit complete with a multi-coloured feather boa, and revealed he would sing Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot.

He had the crowd dancing within seconds, and even Simon raised a smile as Kelly lifted his arms in the air.

'Get up, Simon!' she ordered him.

Santa: Denny Smith performed in a red suit and white beard

Sense of humour: The 69-year-old pastor introduced himself as 'Santa Claus

He resisted at first - but eventually all three female judges managed to yank him out of his chair before he tried to end the performance.

But they couldn't get him to dance.

And he looked incredibly awkward when Demi waved her behind in his face after he sat down again.

'What's the matter with you three?' he asked them.

The ladies all voted 'Yes', leaving Simon with the deciding vote.

He's got soul: The elderly gentleman unleashed a ferocious bluesy-roar to sing Stormy Monday Blues

Underdog: Mother-of-eight Victoria Carriger defied expectations on the show

'I also like big butts, so I'm going to say “Yes”,’ he said as the crowd roared with delight, as viewers saw old footage of the two men on Keith's Idol debut a decade ago.

The last of the auditions also saw Glamour - three 12 to 13-year-old girls from Atlanta, Georgia - bring the house down with their harmonious take on The Star-Spangled Banner.

'I am so excited. I feel like I'm looking at a baby Destiny's Child right now!' said Kelly Rowland as all four judges gave them 'Yes' votes.

Female trio Girls United also impressed - with their singing AND their looks.

Her brood: The single mother came with her eight children

The 23 and 24-year-olds said they were performing for the first time in front of such a big crowd. But they held their nerves and sang an a cappella version of Price Tag by Jessie J.

'You're so pretty, it's just stupid,' said Demi Lovato as all of the judges voted them on to the next round.

'You have a deep voice!' Kelly Rowland told 17-year-old student Zach Beeken, from Pittsburgh before he sang country hit Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song) by Chris Young.

'I didn't expect you to sing that well,' admitted Paulina.

The right one: Cowell pictured with his pregnant girlfriend Lauren Silverman, in New York last week

Cartoonish rap / singing duo Wild Thingz, aged 22 and 30, were up next - and wowed the judges despite their appearance, getting four 'Yes' votes.

And viewers might be forgiven for having checked the calendar when Denny Smith took to the stage.

The 69-year-old pastor from Carson, California, was decked out in a red suit and hat - and sported a full, white beard, prompting Demi to shout: 'Oh my God, it's Santa!'

'My name is Denny 'Santa Claus' Smith,' he said, before he unleashed a ferocious bluesy-roar to sing Stormy Monday Blues.

'Christmas has just come early,' Simon told him, as all the judges voted him through.

'It feels like Christmas,' Denny said afterwards.

Under consideration: Kelly Rowland took her judging seriously

There was barely a dry eye in the house when mum-of-eight Victoria Carriger tried out.

The 41-year-old from Waynesville, Missouri, admitted she was currently separated from her husband, and said it was a struggle bringing up the children alone.

'I'd always wanted a big family,' she said, explaining that her youngest is just four years-old, while her eldest child is 20. But she said it felt like she had another baby every year.

'I gave up everything to be a mum. I'm kind of like a single mum,' she said.

'It's very important my kids are proud of me,' she said, fighting back tears, as she told how she dreamed of 'stability' and a 'new start'.

She sang Kelly Clarkson's Because of You, because she said the lyrics related to her situation - and had many of the audience on their feet applauding her.

'I genuinely had written you off before you started singing,' said Simon.

'I was not expecting that. Through that song I think I'm starting to understand your story. You had a point to prove there, right? I thought that was extraordinary.'

Paulina praised her 'raspy' voice and said she felt her pain.

'I'm rooting for you,' said Demi, as all of the judges sent her through, as her children ran onstage to support her.

'That's what it's all about,' said a visibly moved Simon.

Narrowing the field: The X Factor contestants wait to see if they advance

Later, all 218 acts who got 'Yes' votes were flown to Los Angeles and gathered at the city's Shrine Auditorium.

But they had no idea what to expect.

Simon Cowell revealed there will be no 'bootcamp' round, as there was in previous seasons.

'We are going to now pick 10 over-25s, 10 boys, 10 girls, and 10 groups,' he told them. 'You will then compete in the next round, which is something brand new.'

He didn't tell them what the next round would consist of.

But viewers learned it would be a brand new elimination round, dubbed the 'Four Chair Challenge'.

'Only the toughest will survive,' host Mario Lopez revealed.

The judges then gathered to try and whittle down 218 to 40.

Survival of the toughest: Host Mario Lopez kept viewers up to speed on the rules of the competition

They watched tapes of the auditions to refresh their memories as the hopefuls waited nervously to learn their fate as the judges occasionally squabbled.

The girls were first to learn who would be staying, and whose dreams would be shattered.

'There are so many girls who should have gone through,' said Simon, bemoaning the fact they could only pick 10.

'This is going to be quite bittersweet.'

The first girl to learn she was through was Khaya Cohen, whose Nina Simone cover the night before wowed all of the judges. She high-fived Simon as her name was read out.

Joining her were Bree Randall, Jamie Pineda, Simone Torres, Rion Paige, Danie Geimer, Rylie Brown, Primrose Martin, Ellona Santiago, and Ashly Williams.

'I represent every girl who's ever been told 'No,' said Ashly afterwards, her face streaming with tears.

'I'm really, really sorry that I have to let you go now,' Simon told the remaining girls.

It was the boys' turn next.

'The first boy through is Carlito Olivero,' said Simon.

The judges: The X Factor judging panel of Demi, Paulina Rubio, Kelly and Simon cut the field

He was joined in the next round by Chase Goehring, Timmy Thames, Isaiah Alston, Tim Olstad, Al Calderon, Josh Levi, Isaac Tauaefa, Carlos Guevara, and Stone Martin.

'It's been a pleasure having you on the show,' Simon told the others.

In the groups section, the first to learn they had made it was Glamour.

They were joined by Good News, Yellow House Canyon, Alex & Sierra, Roxxy Montana, Wild Thingz, and Girls United.

'I'm really, really sorry. It's the end of the road,' Simon told the others.

And in the over 25s category, the first person to go through was Lillie McCloud. She was joined by Jeff Brinkman, Rachel Potter, Kristine Mirelle, Victoria Carriger, James Kenney, Allison Davis, Denny Smith, Lorie Moore, and Jeff Gutt, who said that at the age of 37, he was unlikely to get many more opportunities.

'Thank you very much indeed,' Simon told the remaining hopefuls.

Doing their best: A female group performed in the same city, catching the judges attention

But there was a twist when some of the rejected contestants were told to return to the stage.

'We've got this bright idea of putting you guys together as a group,' Kelly  told the hopefuls.

'We think there's a gap in the market right now for three male country artists,' said to one trio.

That move brought the total for the 'Groups' category up to 10 after just seven group names were read out earlier.

Meanwhile the judges learned who the producers had picked to mentor each category.

Demi said she wanted the girls, while Kelly confessed she would be 'intrigued' to get the over-25s.

Each category was placed in separate holding areas around the venue - and the judges were sent down different aisles of the theater to see which group they would be working with.

Kelly was the first to discover who was on the other side of the door. And in her case it was the over-25s.

'I'm so happy,' she said. 'I definitely have the winner in this category.'

Demi, meanwhile, will mentor the girls, while Paulina was tasked with mentoring the boys - and immediately promised to feed them Mexican food.

'They're going to kill it,' she said.

Demi said: 'The other judges definitely need to watch out.'

That left Simon with the groups - who seemed delighted at the news.

'I got this real wave of excitement. I'm going to win it this year,' Simon vowed.