AMERICAN IDOL - COWELL'S BIZARRE LIST OF DREAM PETS

AMERICAN IDOL judge SIMON COWELL has unveiled his dream list of pets - spiders, rats and snakes.

The sharp-tongued music mogul, 44, is enchanted by the creatures' characteristics - even though they strike fear in most other people.

He coos, "I like spiders, I love snakes and I love rats. I think rats got bad PR, because actually they are big mice. I would like to have a pet rat. It would sit on my shoulder.

"I could also have a pet snake. I'd love sitting with a pet snake wrapped around me - it's the most incredible feeling. And when you blow on them, they stick their tongue out at you."