equivalency is a very dangerous insult. >> is president obama a friend to israel? i'll ask a man who knows better than anybody else. former israeli prime minister ehud barak. what would a vote on the palestinian state mean to the u.s., israel and the middle east? and man of very strong opinions making the biggest gamble of his career. simon cowell is the starmaker behind "american idol." can he strike it rich again with "the x factor." >> people like you inspire me. >> tonight simon cowell and nicole scherzinger. >> i finally actually met my match. i found an ego bigger than myself. >> this is "piers morgan tonight." good evening. a senior u.s. official tells cnn that president obama will meet with mahmoud abbas tomorrow. the president's campaigning for full u.n. membership and statehood recognition. the u.s. has promised to block

it in order to avoid a diplomatic showdown at the u.n. this week. the whole world will be watching. but the question tonight is this. where does all this leave israel? joining me now is ehud barak. thank you for joining me. this seems on the face of it to be a very pivotal moment for israel, palestine, for the peace process. what is your take on what is happening? >> it's not easy at the moment. i hope and i believe that a way should be found to make it a launching pad for a new momentum to resume negotiations. no conditions in order to strike a deal. i believe that it's possible. both of us are powerful, two states, two people. i think the differences are not insurmountable. >> the critics argue prime minister netanyahu and yourself, you've been angling for a peace

process, for something to happen, for a treaty for a settlement now for decades. and the promises have kept coming, and nothing has happened. is it really that surprising that the palestinians are now going to the u.n. in the way that they are? doesn't there eventually have to be a cutoff point here? >> you know, just 11 years ago i was prime minister of israel and with president clinton we put a far reaching kind of a proposal on the table. arafat at the time rejected it. a few years ago, the then prime minister put an officer and summarily they rejected it. the foreign minister said the palestinians never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. i hope it will not repeat itself. until now, we are ready even now. i met with him two or three

weeks ago in oman. i met with the palestinian leader. they're serious people, but they have to overcome all resistant from within and from some corners of the other world and move toward real negotiation with no preconditions. we are ready, we'll be there, we'll take care of our security, wee take care of -- we have to take care of our future, especially these volatile, almost volcanic eruptions all around us, but we are ready to make the extra mile and try to reach an agreement. >> the general view appears to be that israel has never felt more isolated because of the arab spring uprising, but that's perfectly understandable that your own security is at stake and you're right in the center of that, you're the defense minister. but rick perry today, the republican candidate for the nomination, a man who may be president within a year has come out today with some pretty strong statements. let me just play you what he said. >> we're equally indignant of the obama administration and

their middle east policy of appeasement that has encouraged such an ominous act of bad faith. >> i mean, appeasement is a very strong word to use. do you agree with what rick perry said? >> i don't understand exactly what he meant, in what context he's -- >> let me read you exactly the contents. he said we are indignant that certain middle eastern leaders have discarded the principle of direct negotiation between the sovereign nation of israel and the palestinian leadership. and we are equally indignant that the obama administration's apiecement has encouraged such an ominous act of bad faith. >> i don't think the obama administration encouraged the attitude of the palestinians. i think they are genuinely trying to promote peace and to bring both sides with all due deference to bring them together and to push it. i should tell you honestly that

the obama administration is backing the security of israel for which i'm responsible in our government in a way that could hardly be compared to any previous administration. >> is barack obama, in your v w view -- and you're very experienced in this -- is he a friend of israel? >> i think first of all, he's president of america. he will be friendly to israel, especially security related issues. he's also trying, to the best of my judgment, to be even handed with the palestinian. i don't think he's part of the problem. he's part of the solution and should be. but it's up to us and mainly to our counterpart, the palestinian leadership, mahmoud abbas and to others to show the leadership and start to move. the issue cannot be solved by the american president. it should be solved by the players on the ground with

certain support from the rest of the world, which i believe obama is trying to provide. >> if what you're saying is all accurate, then president obama clearly is not, in your eyes, somebody who is appeasing the palestinians. is it, therefore, dangerous for rick perry to come out with statements like this? is it inflammatory? >> i think that i do not pretend to enter into the american political debate. i don't think that appeasement is an accurate description of the policy of this administration. >> is it unhelpful? rick perry is way ahead in the polls to be the republican nominee. president obama's approval rating is quite low. it is likely that rick perry might be the next president of the united states. therefore he's incredibly important. if he comes out with these kind of statement, isn't that dangerous?

>> that's up to the american people whoever you will vote for as your next president. it is not up to us. i don't pretend even to involve in it. but i'm a great fan of honesty in politipolitics. i'm not a great believer in polls. but it's beyond us. we expect any american president, from whatever side of the political aisle, to be basically pro-israel in the sense that he might always recognize the common ground t common basis of values, it puts certain responsibilities on ourselves to behave accordingly. it puts a certain responsibility on you. but i believe that we have a much wider support for israel basic cause than could be described through politic glasses or eyeglasses.

>> i interviewed prime minister net ma na hue in israel this year. a fascinating encounter in many ways. i suged to him isn't it time that he, being prime minister twice now and gotten no nearer a peace deal, is it not time for what i would call the sadat moment or somebody on the israeli side, and currently it would be him, with your assistance, to be the bigger man here, to be the one that takes the biggest step that is perhaps as popular with your own people, with your own party. in other words, put peace manufacture politics. the moment the palestinians are circumnavigating you to the united nations, is it not the time that many people are crying out for you and netanyahu to get together and say, we're going to make this happen, we're going to do a deal, we're going to take more pain in negotiation than we would wish to because the bigger picture is more important? >> i believe prime minister netanyahu genuinely believes in the need to move forward and

ready to take the risks to pay the painful price. >> what is the risk that you think is palatable? what is the risk that you're talking about? >> you know, israel, we, for example, we pulled out under my order as a prime minister from lebanon. after staying there for 18 years. under international recognition that there is a resolution. so it ended up being the place from where 45,000 rockets and missiles are aimed at our population including the main central areas of israel like tell veefb. we pulled out from gaza, the last soldier and settler. we end up now with 10,000 rockets aimed at the -- >> here's my problem. not my problem. if there is a problem --

>> believe me. just try to think of 50,000 rockets aimed at manhattan or washington, d.c. >> i totally understand. >> with major focus of attention -- >> nobody disputes that israel has massive security issues. nobody disputes that living under the threat of rockets and everything is an intolerable pressure that you've had to bear. nobody disputes it. but nobody disputes that the oppression that many sooe sew of so many palestinians, millions of palestinians, like the gaza strip, it can't go on. that this impasse has to end. there has to be a finish to this. that's where people look to you and to prime minister netanyahu and say you've been around the block a long time on this. this is a time for you to make the big move. i'll read you what was a fascinating article by thomas friedman, pretty damning about the administration in israel. he said i've never been more worried about israel's future. the crumbling of key pillars of israel's security, the peace

with egypt and stability of syria and jordan coupled with the most diplomatically inept and strategically incompetent government in israel's history have put israel in a very dangerous situation. strong words. >> i appreciate tom friedman, but the developments in the arab world, what's called the arab spring, a political weaken we have not witnessed since the ottoman empire is not something created by us or caused by a conflict with palestinians. it would happen and is something which is beyond our control. it mike take place anyhow. we should not hold ourself responsible for whatever happens in the arab world. on the other hand, if you mentioned gaza. you know, in gaza strip we are no more an effective holder of the area. there is hamas government. we gave it to the fatah. and they lost it in a coup

d'etat to hamas terror organization with no ground to talk about. hamas doesn't control half of his own people when it comes to talking on their behalf. it is nol not that simple. believe me. if it were much simpler, it would have been already behind us. it's a difficult issue to solve. we have to be responsible for our security. we have a contract with our civilian population to protect them against things that are happening day and night all around us. >> hold that thought. >> we have to do it. >> hold that thought. let's come back after the break and discuss specific click the effects of the arab spring on israel and its security.

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is israeli defense minister and former prime minister. talk to me about the arab spring. we touched on that earlier. but clearly an extraordinary few months for the region. i mean, this is a kind of activity that would normally take generations to happen and it happened in a few months. right in the middle of it is israel. most people feel absolute sympathy with the sense that israel must feel of really being isolated, of being vulnerable, of being surrounded by almost constant instability. what is it like to be the israeli defense minister in the middle of all this? >> it's clear we have to rely upon ourselves, that it's a tough neighborhood. no mercy for the weak, no second opportunity for those who cannot defend themselves. and in a moment of truth -- and we looked very carefully on egypt and tunisia, on libya, on syria, it's clear to us. we will have to stand alone.

so we have to be strong and self-confident and well trained and well equipped. and with regard to the americans helping out this administration, extremely consistent ly but at the same time we have to be open-eyed. the events are beyond our control. i compare it to the need to cross a wide river. you cannot just close your eyes, say the lord is with us and you cannot say, okay, nothing could be done. you have to enter into it, use these -- how you call this, to pull to navigate and to take enough time. you cannot change the direction of the whole stream, but you can choose the point of launching of your crossing attempt in a way that will help you to navigate. we have to be work, we have to be active. we shouldn't be paralyzed like a rabbit under the lights of the -- >> let me ask you, do you think

that people in the west have a slightly fanciful notion of what the arab spring has actually been in the sense that -- the reason i ask that, take somewhere like egypt where there's this huge uprising. 18 days there's a huge revolution. everyone else gets on with their lives. but egypt carries on. what appears to be happening now, is the islam brotherhood, the extreme ends, appear to be seizing more and more political influence and power. is that's what's really concerning you? are you wored you'll end up with a whole lot of iraqs? >> i feel the pain for mubarak. he served his country as an exemplary man for year. but once it happens, it is an inspiring moment, a moving moment for egypt to be standing on its feet and the people demanding their basic rights. but that's promising in the long

term. but in the short term it will be very tough. remember the french revolution. the arab societies will go through ups and downs, quite violent periods and probably the muslim brotherhood will take place. there's no basic right for democracy. you cannot expect an intellectual like vaclav havel as the leader. it will be a strong battle between basically the armed forces and the muslim brotherhood. >> like i said, do you worry that you may end up with a series of mini-irans coming out of this arab spring where you have the islamists basically controlling these countries in a way they never have before? >> first of all, we are worried, but a person cannot choose his parents and a nation cannot choose its neighbors. they are whoever they are. these are our neighbors. we prefer to have the canadians as our neighbors, but you got them.

>> not every american's happy about that. >> for the foreseeable future, the strongest country a thousand miles around you from libya to tehran. and we are aware of it. we know that part of it is out of the generosity and the far-sightedness of american presidents including president obama. at the same time we understand thatty welcome not ask someone else to protect us. we should be ready to do it on our own and protect the future and the population of israel against any threat from the whole region. >> you're a man of history. i mean, this is the time, isn't it, when you have u.n. now greeting the palestinians. whatever comes out of these votes, and we're not quite sure how it's all going to play out. but the whole arab spring

uprisings, everything has moved the game on for israel and palestine. this is the time to do this deal, isn't it? >> it was the time ten years and 20 years. but ever more so i cannot say that it's now or never. we cannot control history. i have nothing against the legitimacy of a palestinian state. we say loud and clear we are for two states for two nations. a secure and protectable or defendable israel side by side with the demilitarized palestinian vibrant state. >> you rightly referred to the great counter you had with president clinton that nearly led to a deal. you said that yasser arafat in the end blocked it when many thought it was going to happen. and president clinton felt very frustrated by that. i'm sure you did, too. do you feel after all these decades you dealt with palestinian leadership, that the current leadership, even if they don't have complete control over all the elements with the

palestinians, do you feel there's more chance now of doing a deal with the paper at the head, palestinian leadership, than you've had in your lifetime? >> only time will tell. >> does your gut instinct tell you that? >> it will have to be proven. but hamas is much worse than what they've done in the past. and some others around him are sincere and genuine palestinian leaders who genuinely reject terror. and that's great. hamas, that's the opposite. and some have to find a way to oppress, to suppress, to eliminate politically the hamas influence on their destiny. i think that they deserve the -- it's not the benefit of the -- they deserve the opportunity to prove that they are ready, we expect them to come to the table and let's negotiate both the bottom up aspect that fayad and

the op down aspect on an open table with no precondition, trying sincerely, genuinely to overcome. it will be painful, but it is surmountable. i do not buy the idea that either the palestinians or our needs can make it impossible to be bridged. >> minister, thank you very much. >> thank you. up next, a man who is not afraid to say what he thinks about anything or anybody. "x factor" mastermind simon cowell. [ oswald ] there's a lot of discussion going on about the development of natural gas, whether it can be done safely and responsibly. at exxonmobil we know the answer is yes.

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the last time simon cowell was here he described it as utter torture and his worst nightmare. with the arrival of the u.s. version of "x factor." it is my chance to welcome him back for another grilling. welcome. >> i'm actually thrilled to be back here. >> don't lie. >> nothing to do with the fact that we're promoting the show. i just wanted to be here. you know that. >> of course. typically selfless. this is it for you? i've known you 20 years, and you have been incredibly successful for most of that time with some pleasing failures along the way well suspect but here you are at the moment. i think knowing you well, it's the biggest moment of your

career. am i right? >> yes, yes, it is the biggest moment of my career. i kind of knew what we were getting involved in before we did this. but you're never quite prepared for it. the week before, night before. it's kind of terrifying. i like it. >> someone supremely self-confident like you, how nervous are you? >> well, if you remember, when you and i first started working together on "britain's got talent," god only knows how that happened. >> you hired me. >> i know, but -- god only knows how that happened. i remember going into the audition room for that first time. and i was genuinely petrified because i didn't know if it was going to work or not. then when the show came out the first night, we got the worst reviews. >> yeah. not great ratings. >> not great ratings. >> yeah. >> so i always put myself in that position, but the only thing that gives me confidence each time is when i watch the

show back. i know when i've made a good show or bad show. this time we've made a good show. >> how does it differ from the british one, if at all. and from what you've edited so far, how confident are you that it's going to be a big hit? >> it's like comparing you and i. we're both guys, we're both british, but there's a massive difference between how people respond to you and people respond to me. >> great love and affection. utter horror. >> absolutely the other way around. and the show is like that. it has its own personality. you've seen the uk show. you know how it differs. and i've been quite cautious about saying to people how they're going to feel about it, what is different, because i want them to work it out for themselves. you've got to discover this show. but the way it was shot, and the contestants and the talent and the stories, and for me to be interested when i was shooting the show. and i get bored very, very quickly. i was in there.

when i watched it back at this screening we did, i got a real buzz. and i felt grate for the guys who produced it because they do a tremendous job. >> is there any truth to the ghastly rumor that you're quite nice in this series or not? >> well, at times. >> mr. mean act has been retired. >> i don't think any one of us has a mr. mean act. it's not the one in black. >> let's take a look at u.s. "x factor". >> this is going well. ♪ you make me feel noets you make me foal ♪ ♪ you make me feel like a natural woman ♪ >> i've felt this a long, long time. that was one of the best auditions i've ever heard in my life. loved it, loved it, loved it. >> from what you've seen now,

gone through the auditions, how good is the talent on u.s. "x factor"? >> it's crazily good. but -- and i've done this a long time. there's a long way to go. then i see people start off great and for whatever reason, you put them on the live show and they're horrendous. but so far i'm happy. >> there's big money at stake here. you walked away from over $100 million you could have got re-signing for "idol." i know that. you put a lot of money and investment into this. it's your show. $5 million to the winner for a recording contract. in itself a huge gamble. there's a lot at stake here, isn't there, for you? i never thought i'd ask you this question, but are you contemplating failure? could it happen? and how would you deal with it? >> well, you don't go into anything contemplating failure because if you did, you wouldn't make it. if it didn't work out well, i would be really, really upset,

disappointed. because i believe in it. i believe in the show. i've done this show for a long time. i do think it's the best one. i actually do. and when it works, it's fantastic. but you have to be a big boy about these things and you've got to take risks and part of what i've loved about doing this is the risk i've taken. >> everyone knows the big rivalry with you and simon fuller who owns "american idol." could you take down "american idol" in in season one? >> it's impossible to predict. >> would you like to? >> of course. >> you're incredibly competitive. >> yeah. you don't do anything for the silver or bronze medal, do you? i put my heart and soul into this show, and i believe in the show. i like the fact that there isn't an age limit. you will see a very different type of contestant. so, you know, knowing what i know now, you know what, piers,

even if it didn't work, i would still have no regrets because you've got to take risks. and bad things happen occasionally. but that's what makes life exciting. >> did you watch many of the "idol" shows? >> no. >> did you find it odd, the idea of an "idol" without you? >> yeah. right from the get-go when i saw these trailers and it was like every voice deserves to be heard, dig. a warmer, kinder person. dig. i'm thinking, okay, you really don't want me on the show. when i saw it back. and i was watching it more about is it going to be different to "x factor." and i thought it's going to be sufficiently different. because you don't want the make the same show. and it worked. they decided to be kind of sunnier, warmer, all those things. you know, we have elements of that in our show. but they are very, very, very different shows. >> when we come back, i want to talk to you about the most

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water. >> i'm going to give you one more chance before i lose my

patience with you. >> i'm sorry. >> because i am now beginning to get irritated by you. >> i'm sorry. >> just shut it and start singing. >> that was from the "x factor" that's finally made it to the united states. mr. mean is still there alive and kicking. >> he's there. >> you've got some acts on this show who are kind of, you know, they've rehabilitated their lives and you're making a big play at that. i wouldn't say massively controversial, but unusual to do that. tell me about some of those. >> well, when we created the rules which were you could be 12 and there's no upper age limit or you could be in a group, we also kind of said it has to reflect what is happening in the music business, this show. and in the music business, a lot of people are having hit records. they've gone through similar issues. they've had drug problems, alcohol problems, home problems, you name it, they've had them. and they normally use this to sort themselves out. so i absolutely felt the same

way. i didn't want to start putting too many rules on it. it was all about talent. somebody wants to make their life better. they own up to what they did. i don't have an issue with that. and i had no qualms showing it. >> it's a tough time for america at the moment, economically in particular, politically, you know, no one's quite sure what will happen, whether obama will win again or whatever. you've been here a long time now. what do you think of what's going on here to the country? what do you think that nearly 10% of the population are unemployed? what is your advice. >> insist on manufacturing your home country, 100%. that's always the most important thing in my mind. you know, the fact that you have to get so much stuff made in other countries now is always going to be an issue. until you sort that out, you're going to have problems. >> you've been out of work, you know. there's only about 12, 13 years ago that you lost pretty much everything when everything went boom and bust in england. to those who lost their jobs in

all this, who are really suffering out there, what do you say to them? >> well, you know, i had to sort myself out. but at laos i had somewhere to live. i lived with my parents. but you know, it's not as doom and gloom as people think because you look at companies like apple and google, which just can't be copied. no one's going to make a cheaper version of that because people won't buy it. that's what makes countries like america great. when they do something better than anybody else. and you got to be realistic about that. >> barack obama, to everyone's horror, most of all mine, name checked you memorably last year. would you -- you can't vote for him, but what do you think of him? how do you think he's doing? >> you know what? i think as a brit, it's quite important -- and you'll learn this, piers -- that you don't get involved in another country's politics. you don't do that your own country. >> i do that every night. but you should have opinions.

>> no, you don't. you don't live here. you're not americans. it's their politics. let them make their own decisions. same thing with religion. >> as a leader, how do you think he's doing? >> as a leader, i think he's a decent guy, i really do. but what he's got to sort out right now, you know, anyone's going to have a problem with that. compared to where we are now, and i include we, britain and america, compared to what happened ten years ago on 9/11, and i watched that the other night, and we genuinely thought that was the end of the world. and you go back to new york and see the positivity there and how we dealt with that and still be positive and optimistic, that's what brits do well, that's what americans do well. you move on and you remain positive. the interesting thing right now is with google and twitter and everything else, it's how much power people have again. i mean, somebody else with one of these weird influential lists

or power lists. i know you care about them. >> i do. >> truthfully the question was who was the most powerful person in entertainment. right now it's twitter and google and it's the internet and the public. >> you aren't on twitter, are you? >> i can't do it, but i watch it and i see the effect it has. itsd's people. >> you're not worried about having as many followers as me. >> you're concerned with that. you know what that is? that is massive insecurity. >> it's massive security. >> no, it's not. >> it is. the insecurity comes from those who don't want to test the water in case, like you, they're worried about not getting enough followers. >> you are insecure in so much as something must have happened to you as a child where you said something and nobody listened. and now you think when you go to the bathroom, people are interested, and they're not. >> they are. >> they're not. >> they're watching this show.

they're not watching for you, trust me. >> well, they are. we'll check "x factor's" against piers morgan. >> we're going to break, thank god. we'll bring out a little friend of yours, nicole scherzinger who is a judge. >> just a minute. it's scherzinger. >> let's call her nicole. how are you? lovely to see you. >> why do you have a formal? that was like a weird. are you curious about new ideas? do you want to learn a new language, or just a new word? maybe you want to know more about anatomy, or astronomy. you could master something new, or uncover a hidden talent. there's never been a better time to learn.

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♪ don't you ♪ don't you baby ♪ don't you >> a huge hit by the pussycat dolls nicole scherzinger. she's also a judge on "the x factor." thank god she's with us right now. a touch of glam are to the proceedings. how impossible has he been to work with, nicole? let's start at the top here. you can be honest. >> i think you should reverse the question, by the way. how impossible has she been to work with. >> how am i impossible? >> in a nice way. i once described you as fantastically narcissistic. >> coming from you. >> seriously. >> the king of narcissism. >> i'm an artist, but i actually finally met my match. i found a bigger diva than myself. >> have you ever met a bigger eeg other? >> no, it's rubbing off on me, actually. >> the stakes are very high for these contestants. apart from the biggest prize in talent show history, $5 million

record deal at the end of it. they also get to perform in the pepsi super bowl halftime show. >> it's the commercial. what pepsi are doing -- you know those great pepsi commercials in the past. madonna, michael jackson, britney spears. >> i'll find a way to get myself in there. >> they're part of the show. >> we didn't ask for this. they called us and said we've got an idea, how about we offer the winner in addition to the money, the chance to make one of these commercials, but like one of the big music commercials. >> let me take you back to when you were entering competitions. if you had that possibility at the end of the rainbow $5 million record deal guaranteed plus in the pepsi commercial at the super bowl half time, what would that have meant to you? for the nerves alone made things ten tense? >> you know, i started out in a show like this, where i entered the audition, went through the whole process and went to the

city and drove there and so, for me, as an artist, it was an opportunity because i came from very humble beginnings and i didn't know how i was going to get in front of the right people but i knew i was going to make it somehow it is a whole another level right now. >> i want to play you a little clip, actually this is your first audition on "pop stars." >> oh, please don't. >> i will. now that you have asked me not to. >> my gosh. >> some auditioners seemed already to be on the road to pop stardom. like -- >> nicole scherzinger. i was meant a to perform in front of people. i like to sing, act and dance. my life, been young. always wanted with to be whitney houston. ♪ and i will always love you >> that was pretty good. what are you worried about? i would have put you through to the next round. >> i have grown a lot since then. that was a while ago. >> you are cringing watching that. >> you have got a good voice.

thank you, simon. >> why are you so awkward watching it? >> i don't like watching myself on tv. >> to oh what? why did you go on tv? >> what? >> much easier to perform, don't want to watch it back. >> i don't like watching myself on tv. >> not everybody is like you, simon, to okay? >> i have heard it all. >> can we talk about paula abdul, because obviously, you know, an old -- what does it feel like you, nicole, to be coming in between the most famous talent show jimming desk pairing in history? >> growing up, i loved paula, like, kind of obsessed with paula. i had like paula abdul wallpaper and paula abdul, like, gowns and -- >> really? >> everything. yeah. i was kind of obsessed with her. >> as a good catholic girl, you have done some pretty raunchy stuff. >> raunchy? like what? >> oh, let me show you. this is a video to "right there" which i think for most good catholic girls would be, well,

some of the experimental stage. >> it is artistic. ♪ ♪ you like to please, yeah i like that, me like it ♪ ♪ i like the way that you keep me coming ♪ ♪ yeah, yeah, you had me running ♪ ♪ you like the way that you >> i mean, not massively popular in the vatican, that one. >> wow. wow. >> and your family slightly go, nicole what are you up to? >> that's the thing, is like my -- my papa is a priest and i grew up a very strict catholic family, if my family digs it, i'm okay. they love happened >> your dad loved that video? >> my grandfather. >> your grandfather? really? >> they love t incorporated tahitian and hula, part of my hawaiian heritage it is a fun song. >> take another break. when we come back, going to break every male viewer's heart. >> oh oh. >> i'm afraid. i habe a cohd.

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♪ >> nicole scherzinger taking you the top prize on dancing with the stars. >> wow. >> so, great singer, great dancer, great tv judge. you know, everyone's watching, thinking, wow, is she available? is she single? and the crushing answer is no, you're not, are you? >> i have a boyfriend. >> i have a melt your boyfriend, louis hamilton, a formula one motor racing champion. he also has, a true story, when i met him, he had the hardest handshake, like a bone-crushing handshake. >> really? >> i have ever experienced. i'm only used to this end of the market, which is -- >> i have an intense handshake as well. >> crushing. >> it is good. because it means that i'm really happy to meet you. >> you have got one, too.

when you first met his, it was love at firsthand bite? >> no. >> no? >> that would be weird, right? >> i don't know. >> not to piers. >> piers: tell me about louis. >> like someone has a bit of a crush. >> piers: great guy. seemed very chilled out to me. >> he is very hum mel belle and we are both private people, been together over three years now. >> you are a bit older than him, respect you. >> a bit? i don't know, in my spirit, i feel like i'm younger. i mean, look at this face, honey. >> piers: does he quite qualify for toy boy status or no? >> no absolutely not. and one time you call made cougar and never again. i was like what is that? and then somebody told me. >> it's a big cat that lives in the mountains. >> i have a lot of energy and i think it's spirit and, i don't know. >> in a few years time, you will be a milf. >> piers: simon.

this is not that kind of show not the kind of show you that do this is your new album. >> yes. >> piers: the single from the album, called "killer love." single is called "don't hold your breath," is that some reference to getting some compliment from simon or -- >> yeah. don't -- >> piers: excited by this? >> i have released the album in the uk. been really positive. >> number one. before to release it here. i'm a little scared trkt is my baby, but working on it my whole life. >> piers: i wish you both -- nicole, success. simon, a problem here the devil on my back, totalling no, ma'am minutious failure. >> i get that >> piers: i don't think it will happen. >> give me a firm handshake. >> piers: good luck. >> i knew aid like had that. >> piers: it has been a pleasure. simon, a total nightmare. >> a crush, don't you >> piers: a little bit. >> with louis there. >> piers: that is it for us tonight. "ac 360" starts right now.