WHEN journalist Tom Bower’s autobiography was released last month he couldn’t have wished for better publicity, with Cowell and his PR guru, Max Clifford, both announcing their regret at allowing such unguarded access to all areas of the TV mogul’s private life.

BOOK

Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell

Tom Bower

WHEN journalist Tom Bower’s autobiography was released last month he couldn’t have wished for better publicity, with Cowell and his PR guru, Max Clifford, both announcing their regret at allowing such unguarded access to all areas of the TV mogul’s private life.

It assured potential readers there must be some real juice within its pages and gossip mongers rushed to buy the 432 page tome, on the promise that the secrets of his success, his unusually clingy ex-girlfriends and Dannii-gate would be revealed.

Bower is a wonderful writer, learned historian and celebrated BBC journalist, his investigative skills cannot be faulted, but they do not transfer well to the celeb-gossip genre.

Those who are inclined to commit to a book of this length about a TV talent-show judge will struggle with Bower’s style.

In a bid to flaunt his intimate knowledge of Cowell’s professional life, a lot of space is given to lengthy business negotiations and boardroom back-stabbing, which is hardly what the celeb-biography buying public are after.

Huge snippets of gossip, that would dominate the front page of any gossip-rag worth its salt, are dropped in amongst the industry jargon.

Dannii-gate has been paraded enough in the press following the book’s release, and nothing more than what has already been revealed is within Bower’s dry account.

Lesson to be learnt-don’t let a self-respecting, ‘proper’ journalist loose on one of our most interesting, enigmatic personalities, the opportunity will be wasted.