Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has praised Simon Cowell's strength following his beloved mother's death.

The 55-year-old music mogul lost his mother Julie two weeks ago following a lengthy illness and fellow 'X Factor' judge Cheryl is impressed with how well he is coping.

She told the Sunday People newspaper: ''I don't know how he is coping. I've always admired his strength and tenacity but now I have a whole new level of respect for him. He has that British stiff upper lip.''

Cheryl - who is married to French businessman Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini - recently revealed she is grieving the death of her own father-in-law.

Meanwhile Simon admitted that he had been preparing himself for the worst for a while but was determined not to ''burden'' anyone else with his problem.

He told the Sun on Sunday: ''She'd been ill for a very long time. It really happened last year and it was a tough, tough period.

''But I didn't want to burden anyone else with my problem. That's why I never talked about it.

''In a way, that was the hardest part because it was always on your mind. But look, I experienced it with my dad and the only thing I can say is that I have incredible memories.''