Simon Cowell opens up about mother's death

London: Media mogul Simon Cowell has spoken for the first time about the "nine months of hell" he endured as he watched his mother die.

Cowell, 55, who recently lost his 89-year-old mother, Julie Brett, said her illness was a "tough period", reported The Mirror.

"She had been ill for a very long time. It really happened last year and it was tough period," he said.

Cowell said he did not talk about his mother's health earlier as he did not want to "burden" people with his problems.

"I did not 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 my mind. But look, I experienced it with my dad and the only thing I can say is that I have incredible memories."

Cowell, who missed two days off filming auditions for "The X Factor" with Nick Grimshaw, Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Verscin, said he got back to work as his mother would have liked it.

"It sounds corny but its exactly what she wanted me to do because she loved what I did... Everyone who met her just loved her."