Simon Cowell says 'The X Factor' was "very predictable" last year.
The media mogul insisted it was obvious "from the get-go" that Sam Bailey would be triumphant, and admitted he and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini think they could have helped Tamera Foster get "into the final" to make it more interesting.
He told the Daily Mail Weekend magazine: "It's the talent that really defines the show. Last year, it was OK, but it wasn't my favourite year.
"I think it was very predictable right from the get-go who was going to win and once the live shows started Sam Bailey was in a different league to everybody else.
"Cheryl and I said if we had been mentoring Tamera Foster we would have got her into the final and that would have made it more exciting."
Meanwhile, Simon admitted he loves working with returning judge Cheryl, and said she is "funnier" than she was in the past.
He added: "I think she looks happier and seems happier. She is funnier which I never thought I would say about Cheryl Cole. But she is making me laugh at the moment.
"She is more confident in herself. And although she probably won't admit it, she enjoys working with me and I love working with her."
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