SIMON Cowell is back terrorising unlucky contestants in the second series of American Idol.

Getting straight back into his role as the nastiest judge on the panel alongside Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Cowell hit the contestants with a barrage of abuse including gems like: "If you lived 2,000 years ago and sang like that, I think they would have stoned you." and "I've heard better people sing outside of subway stations."

No, honestly, Simon, tell us what you really think.