MUSIC industry mogul Simon Cowell may be a tough man to please on the X Factor, but wasted no time in giving his seal of approval to Oxfordshire sweet and milkshake shops.

The TV talent show star visited Chipping Norton and showed his sweet tooth by sampling treats from milkshake shop Tickittyshake and Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe.

Julia Cook, owner of Tickittyshake and neighbouring children’s boutique Tickittyboo, said: “He was very happy to have his photo taken.

“He was extremely kind and lovely, polite and smiley and he was very complimentary about my staff.

“He bought a vanilla shake for his son and some sweets and toys.

“I told the staff to offer it for free but he refused and told the staff he wanted to pay.”

It isn’t the first time the Tickitty shops have been visited by famous faces.

“We’ve had David Cameron and Alex James in Tickittyshake a few times," she said.

“We’ve had Amanda Holden in Tickittyboo before and we’ve had Lydia Bright from Towie.”

Nicola Hogan, owner of Mr Simms, said: “We don’t like to give too many details about who visits and what they buy. We prefer it if they feel they can visit us as normal people.
He came in with his son Eric, dog Squiddly and other family members.
 

Witney Gazette: Simon Cowell with Tickittyboo employee Susan FordeSimon Cowell with Tickittyboo employee Susan Forde

“He was delightful, and his son Eric enjoyed exploring the pick ‘n’ mix. They visited other shops and he was very good about having selfies with people along the way.”

As Mr Cowell enjoyed a day of shopping in Chipping Norton, social media went into meltdown as the origins of One Direction were revealed.

Liam Payne had claimed the group had been made around him.
In response, X Factor released previously unseen footage of how the judges created the band.

Witney Gazette: Simon Cowell with owner of Mr Simms, Nicola HoganSimon Cowell with owner of Mr Simms, Nicola Hogan

It showed them first selecting Niall Horan, followed by Harry Styles, and then Louis Tomlinson. But Mr Cowell was clearly most impressed by Payne.
“He was the standout audition,” he said.

The judges toyed with the idea of putting him up as a solo performer before Nicole Scherzinger suggested he could be the “leader” of the DIY boy band, it was reported.