Cheryl Fernandez-Versini praises Cowell's 'strength'

Los Angeles: “X Factor” judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini is impressed by Simon Cowell's strength following his mother's death.

"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 was quoted as saying by the Sunday People newspaper.

The 55-year-old music mogul lost his mother Julie two weeks ago following a prolonged illness.

Cheryl -- married to French businessman Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini -- said she was grieving the death of her own father-in-law.

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

"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,” he said.