Simon Cowell and Dannii Minogue did have a relationship, confirms Max Clifford

Max Clifford has confirmed that Simon Cowell and Dannii Minogue were lovers

Simon Cowell DID have a relationship with Dannii Minogue, his publicist Max Clifford has confirmed.

In a new unauthorised biography by BBC journalist Tom Bower it was claimed that the pair, who originally denied rumours in 2008, were 'genuinely in love.'

Now the music mogul's publicist, Max Clifford, has confirmed the two were lovers, telling Exclusive TV: 'Yes - he did have a relationship with Dannii.'

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The PR guru then went on to defend Simon, 52, by saying that X Factor boss does his best to keep his relationships out of the public eye: 'Everyone who knows Simon knows he keeps his private life as private as possible. But [it's] the truth,' Clifford said.

Criticising Bower, Clifford added: 'It was Simon's choice, but my attitude is you don't talk to someone like Tom Bower, he's only really looking for the controversial stuff. It was a mistake.'

In the tell-all biography, to be published next month, Simon apparently discusses his affair with Danni, telling Bower: 'I had a crush on her. It was Dannii's hair, the sexy clothes and the t**s. I was like a schoolboy.

'She was foxy. She was a real man's girl. Very feminine. It was genuine love.

'Every guy in the world fancies Dannii. She's become a sex symbol since joining the show, and the contestants love her. She's got that Sophia Loren, movie-star sex appeal, I love sitting next to her,' Cowell added.

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Dannii, 40, separated from rugby player partner Kris Smith earlier this month. She is reportedly distraught by the revelations.

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