Simon Cowell has vowed that the next series of Britain's Got Talent will be scandal-free following Red Or Black contestant Nathan Hageman's controversial win.
The media mogul claimed that he was in disbelief after discovering that Hageman, the first of four millionaires made by his game show last year, was previously jailed for assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
Hageman was allowed to keep the £1m prize and ignored Cowell's appeal to compensate his victim or donate to charity.
"I regret the Red Or Black situation," Cowell told The Sun. "Watching the show I was thinking, 'Wouldn't it be great if someone wins a million.' Then the phone rings and it's like, 'I can't believe this'."
On how the incident would affect the new series of Britain's Got Talent, he explained: "I can't [background] check everybody, but all those on the live shows will be checked."
Cowell claimed last September that ITV were "delighted" with how Red Or Black had performed, though the channel's director Peter Fincham stated afterwards that the format would need to be changed for any future series.
