The X Factor honcho grew coy on US chat show Tonight With Jay Leno in LA last night when the host questioned him on his engagement. After much coaxing, the 50-year-old media mogul replied: "Well, I do have somebody in my life right now, Jay, yes. And I kinda made the decision this year to make somebody happy."

Leno, apparently enjoying Cowell's discomfort, then spotted make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy in the audience and invited her to join her fiancé on stage. Mezhgan kissed her blushing boyfriend as Leno pointed out her whopping £250,000 engagement ring, joking: "I thought she broke her arm." Cowell agreed: "It's quite a big one, yes."

Cowell confirmed he had purchased Mezhgan's diamond in London, but didn't spill any details of their impending nuptials, saying he would like the wedding in the next ten years and to have children, adding he'd "like lots of me's around in the future."