Norwood Dinner Has The X-Factor

by Justin Cohen - Thursday 20th November 2008


Simon Cowell told TJ this week of his "delight" at recently discovering his father was of the faith as he prepared to address Norwood's annual dinner in central London.

A record 1,200 guests packed into the Grosvenor House Hotel to hear the pop impresario in conversation with former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan on Monday, helping to raise around £3m despite the economic crisis.

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"I'm amazed that anyone's come out and certainly on these numbers during these times because you cant blame people if they couldn't come," said Cowell, who the following day was named as a patron of the charity. "But it's fantastic. Credit to the organisation."

The event came around three years after the X Factor judge first learnt about his own Jewish ancestry following research by a national newspaper into the family tree.

"I always suspected it but to find it out in a newspaper is an unusual way. But I was delighted. Somebody phoned me and said 'did you know that' and I said 'no' but I was happy." And although he recalled the first shul service he attended - the barmitzvah of Sir Philip Green's son - as rather a long affair, he told us "you probably will see me" at future communal events.

Covering topics including his admission to having had used Botox - "the best invention in the world" - to an offer he once received to be the face of Viagra, his 20-minute on-stage conversation with Morgan often had the audience in fits of laughter.

The tone was set in fact when Cowell opened the session by telling Norwood President Richard Desmond, who had introduced him, "Richard, that was absolutely dreadful by the way. You're a great owner of a newspaper but you're a terrible speaker."

Morgan, meanwhile, suggested that Cowell was a "meshugenah" for specifically requesting that he conduct the interview.

But there were also some more serious moments. Asked what he thought was the recipe for success in the modern world, the music mogul said: "I was brought up by my mum and dad who told me that you have to work hard and you have to be patient and most importantly, understand what you're good at doing... I would guess that 90 percent of the people here today probably did it the same way as you and I did - hard work."

Joking that he hoped to one day discover his talent, he added: "I think I'm quite good at knowing what people will like and not to be too snobby about it, I don't like snobbery... whether its food, art, music, TV... I think people are entitled to have their own tastes and not to be too elitist about things."

As well as being interviewed by Morgan, the 49-year-old, who delighted guests by posing for hundreds of pictures and speaking to many diners individually, also introduced the appeal video on the night. "Through my friend Richard Desmond, I have learnt a lot about Norwood and I understand why you're all here. I'm a great believer that we have to support British charities and I'm very happy to support this cause."

He added: "Thank you to everybody for making me feel very welcome here tonight, I've thoroughly enjoyed it."

Cowell, though, is far from the only high-profile figure supporting Norwood - it was announced on the night that The Queen, Royal Patron of the charity, will visit the organisation's residential community for adults with learning disabilities, Ravenswood, next month.

Desmond told guests: "We are all looking forward to showing her our fantastic services. Whilst she is at Ravenswood she will be opening the new Pamela Barnett Centre for adults with profound and multiple disabilities. It's a great honour to have Her Majesty's support."

The glittering evening also saw GMTV's Kate Garraway present Norwood's Helping Hands awards to three inspiring individual: Michelle Barnett, founder of GIFT, Rachely Plancey, who works with parents of children with life-threatening illnesses and 12-year-old Eliana Ostro, who has volunteered at, and raised sunstantial funds for, Neve Shalom - a village in Israel for neglected or abused children.

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