Simon Cowell used Victorian smelling salts during recent illness

Simon Cowell reportedly used Victorian smelling salts to help him get over his recent illness.

Cowell, 50, was recently forced to pull out of filming auditions for the show after being struck down with flu.

His X-Factor co-star Louis Walsh filled in for him but after resorting to the salts, Cowell is back filming the show.

A source said: “An American friend couldn’t understand it, but Simon joked all Englishmen use them.”