"Britain's Got Talent" judge Simon Cowell has admitted that he hated himself after watching Susan Boyle's famous first audition on playback.

The reality TV judge, 50, told Oprah Winfrey on her show this week that the Scottish singer's appearance on "Britain's Got Talent" had been a necessary 'wake-up call.'

"On the day of her audition, I was in such a bad mood, I didn't want to be there, I never thought we'd find anyone good," he said.

"When I watched the clip back, I actually hated myself. We're all sneering, we're not listening. I didn't like what I saw. It was a wake-up call, and I was happy she made us look stupid, because we deserved it."

Cowell also revealed that the reason he wants to take "The X Factor" to the US and continue working on TV talent shows is because he enjoys the buzz.

"I remember Fantasia singing 'Summertime' on 'American Idol,' and for three minutes, I lost myself," he said. "You want to be part of something people are talking about. I love that feeling."