Simon Cowell is "smart, on the ball and fair" says a top rapper.

British hip-hop star Professor Green hit the headlines last year when he slammed reality TV shows such as The X Factor. He dislikes the way stars of these programmes are guaranteed chart success, but insists he is still a fan of the music mogul.

"I don't actually dislike Simon Cowell at all, I think he's wicked. He's smart, on the ball, he's fair. So yeah, I like him, from what I know of him," Green told Q magazine. "Everyone wants to hate him it's so obvious and boring. He went bankrupt, he had a hit with [TV puppets] Zig & Zag, look at him now he's genius."

Green thinks things need to change within the industry in order for more creative people to make it big.

"I'll be honest, my point was that people who are contestants on the show get an automatic slot on the next year, so people who are affiliated with Mr Simon Cowell are favourites," he explained.