Simon Cowell regrets not signing Take That

TV mogul Simon Cowell says not signing the band Take That was a "stupid mistake".

The "X Factor" judge revealed he was "too late" when he went back on his decision to give the "Back For Good" hitmakers a record deal back in the 1990s and it has always bothered him, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The 55-year-old told Radio Times magazine: "I was just starting my record label and I remember this guy came into my office and played me the songs, and I said 'no'.

"And then about two months later, I started to see them written in all the teen magazines, which in those days were important, so I called and the manager and apologised, and I said, 'Actually I've changed my mind, I will sign them.' And that was it.

"It was a stupid mistake. It was pretty bad when they exploded ... but it happens."