Simon Cowell has branded Leona Lewis the savior of X Factor.

Speaking via a video message at Sony Music’s company day on Tuesday, Cowell gave special thanks to Nick Gatfield, Edgar Berger and Syco Music’s Sonny Takhar but reserved high praise for Syco singer Leona Lewis.

The talent show boss suggested that Lewis marked the fulfillment of his X Factor aim saying: “When we created X Factor, it was more than a television show. The idea behind it was to ...