Ananova:

Simon Cowell says he thinks Sharon Osbourne gives him a hard time on X Factor because she fancies him.

The pop mogul said fellow judge Sharon, 52, hated the fact he was unavailable reports the Mirror.

Simon - dating former model Terri Seymour, 30 - told ITV1's Today With Des And Mel: "I think Sharon fancies me.

"You know when a woman is aggressive towards you, it's because they can't have you.

"Sharon looks at me and it's like a dog looking at a can of food. She has a secret crush."

When show co-host Mel Sykes asked what Sharon's husband Ozzy might say, Simon retorted: "I think Ozzy would quite happily give her away if he could."

Simon, 45, has been at loggerheads with Sharon since calling her daughter Kelly, 20, "talentless and ugly" last year.

Three X Factor acts - Steve Brookstein, Irish rocker Tabby and G4 - are through to Saturday's semi-final.