Simon Cowell breaks down in tears after Josh Daniels' emotional song on X Factor following the death of his beloved mother

He sadly lost his mother last month.

And it seems emotions are still running high for Simon Cowell as the X Factor judge was reduced to tears following a heartfelt performance by singing hopeful Josh Daniels on Sunday night's show. 

Performing a rendition of Labrinth's Jealous, the 21-year-old contestant tells the panel that the song reminds him of the loss of his best friend, who died aged 18 in a car crash.

Emotive: Simon Cowell showed his softer side on Sunday evening's X Factor as contestant Josh Daniels performed a song that appeared to remind him of his late mother, Julie

'I lost my best friend a couple of years ago and I interpret it in a totally different way,' he says of the track before proceeding to deliver his version.

But the emotional lyrics soon get the better of Simon, who is affectionately known as TV's Mr Nasty, as his eyes begin to fill with water. 

Looking down, the music mogul cups his chin in his hands in a bid to hold back the tears as co-judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini looks on at him in sadness. 

But Simon's attempt to abstain from crying soon fails as tears begin to fall.

Simon Cowell moved to tears by emotional audition on X Factor

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Different interpretation: Josh informed the judges that the song reminded him of his best friend who died aged just 18

Getting the better of him: Looking down, the music mogul cupped his chin in his hands in a bid to hold back the tears as co-judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini looked on at him in sadness

All too much! The judge was no doubt impressed with Josh's performance, if a little overwhelmed

After Josh finishes his rendition, Cheryl's emotions also get the better of her as she too gets so overwhelmed she bursts into tears. 

The pre-recorded scenes were filmed shortly after the death of Cowell's mother on July 5.

Julie Brett was 89 when she passed away, reportedly leaving the talent boss 'devastated'.

Mournful: Singing hopeful Josh with his late best friend

Overwhelmed: Cheryl struggled to contain her tears when asked to comment on Josh's rendition

Touched: Blown away by the contestant's efforts she told him, 'that was the most captivated I've been in all the auditions so far'

Soppy stuff: In a synchronised display of emotion, both Simon and Cheryl then proceeded to cry on camera

Grief: The pre-recorded scenes were filmed shortly after the death of Cowell's mother on July 5

In fact, once the performance ended, Simon failed to speak at all - instead leaving new recruit Nick Grimshaw to offer some critical analysis.

The BBC Radio 1 DJ said: 'That really got me right in the heart.'

Cheryl then added: 'That was the most captivated I've been in all the auditions so far," before asking if she can give Daniel a hug.'

But the star looked to be a little out of her comfort zone once the show was over as Simon abruptly rose from the panel and walked off. 

Making his way over to a member of the crew, he hides his teary eyes beneath a pair of aviator sunglasses before making his way over to a studio buggy. 

Looking toward her co-star, Cheryl tells Nick: 'I don’t know what to do. What do I do? Do I go? Do I stay?' 

Cheryl breaks down in tears after Josh Daniel's performance

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Missing her: Simon with his late mother Julie, who sadly passed away last month

Helpless: Cheryl and Nick looked on in sadness as Simon walked away weeping about his late mother

Flop? The 12th series' debut attracted just 7.11million (a 35.9% share of viewers), with a further 536k (2.9%) watching on +1 - down two million from the previous year

But it seems Josh's performance isn't the only thing Simon could be feeling down-heartened over as it was recently revealed that the X Factor's opening show received the lowest ratings in ten years. 

The emotive follow-up to Saturday's launch comes just 24 hours after the 12th series' debut attracted just 7.11million (a 35.9% share of viewers), with a further 536k (2.9%) watching on +1 - down two million from the previous year. 

In 2014, the first episode was watched by 9.03m and 465k on +1, which was an impressive total considering it was competing with Doctor Who, and one of new Time Lord Peter Capaldi's first episodes.

The 2015 X Factor launch show in comparison had little competition, being scheduled opposite the National Lottery: Five Star Family Reunion and Casualty, which achieved audience figures of 2.7 million and 4.1 million respectively. 

Meanwhile, the X Factor judges were blown away by flamboyant contestant Sean Miley Moore on the popular talent show.

The 24-year-old singer took to the stage in a rather fetching black patent pencil skirt, which he wore with a sheer long-sleeved top as he performed Queen song The Show Must Go On. 

The flamboyant contestant added a metal belt which cinched him in at the waist and polished off his look with a pair of gold hoop earrings and a backwards leather baseball cap.  

Wow! Sean Miley Moore made waves for his eccentric outfit on X Factor but it was his incredible rendition of Queen song, The Show Must Go on which won him praise from the judges

Cheryl said: 'I was literally spellbound. You’re the first person I didn’t want to and I couldn’t take my eyes off of, you were amazing'

Arriving on stage in an oversized furry coat and platform heels, Rita Ora asked him: 'Did you raid my wardrobe?'

But despite his eye-catching ensemble, it was his show-stopping performance which made the Australian, who moved to London two weeks ago to audition for the show, stand out from the crowd.

After his performance, judge Rita began to cry and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini revealed how much she had been moved by his performance.

'I was literally spellbound,' she said. 'You’re the first person I didn’t want to and I couldn’t take my eyes off of, you were amazing.'

Sean Miley Moore's powerful performance moves Rita to tears

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After his incredible performance, a moved Rita Ora began to cry 

Take a chance on me: The Australian singer moved to the UK permanently two weeks ago in order to audition for the show

Working his magic: The 24-year-old singer took to the stage in a rather fetching black patent pencil skirt, which he wore with a sheer long-sleeved top

Radio DJ Nick Grimshaw was also impressed and said: That was hands down the best thing I’ve seen all day.

'I thought it was 100% you and it was addictive. You’re the person everyone’s going to talk about tonight.

Sean revealed that he had moved half way across the world to find fame and Simon said: 

'Welcome back to the UK. I always wanted to find an artist you can’t compare with anybody else, who has originality... and someone you’re going to remember.'

Seen something familiar? Rita asked Sean if he had raided her wardrobe before he belted out the hit 

Emotional: The performance was all too much for the lovely lad who also burst into tears 

He did it! He wiped his tears away with his hands following his incredible reaction

And as Rita fought back tears, she added: 'You have got so much passion and so much determination and so much individuality.

'There is nothing I can say to you apart from I am so happy that you came on this show.'

'It was the biggest yes of the day,' Cheryl insisted.

Rita added: 'This is why I did this show. I’m just so relieved. Sean is literally my favourite can I please have the boys!'

Simon said: 'I wasn't expecting that' after the crowd lapped up his rendition

Forgetting the nerves: Earlier in the show, the singer was pictured enjoying a gossip with another contestant backstage

Other acts to perform on the night were The First Kings –who received four yesses for their rendition of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' hit Uptown Funk.

Cheryl stood up and clapped crowd went wild, while Nick Grimshaw told the group: 'It didn’t look like an audition It looked like you were ready to go.'

Simon added: I’ve never seen an audition like that on this show.

Good looking: Boy band New Wave set pulses racing with their version of Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC but they failed to impress Simon

Going for it: Other acts to perform on the night were The First Kings –who received four yesses for their rendition of Mark Ronson's hit Uptown Funk

Won them over: Market trader Chloe Paige, 21, was another success story on the night, with Rita telling her 'You sound pure as water you are so gorgeous and im so proud for you'

Nick added: I could listen to you everyday, while Cheryl chimed in with, 'You ‘re really, really good'

'I’ve got to give it to you guys that was impressive,' Rita added. 

Market trader Chloe Paige, 21, was another success story on the night, with Rita telling her 'You sound pure as water you are so gorgeous and im so proud for you.' 

Nick added: I could listen to you everyday, while Cheryl chimed in with, 'You ‘re really, really good.'

Monochromatic: Next up was Adriana Deco from Poland, who failed to impress with her version of Boogie Wonderland

Uh-oh! All four judges looked stunned, with Nick telling her: 'That was about as bad as I’ve heard'

Next up was Adriana Deco from Poland, who failed to impress with her version of Boogie Wonderland. 

All four judges looked stunned, with Nick telling her: 'That was about as bad as I’ve heard.'

'I am very beautiful woman. I don’t need to work,' said 44-year-old Zaiga Melke as she sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Boy band New Wave set pulses racing with their version of Bye Bye Bye by *NSYNC but failed to impress. Netherlands duo Impulse also received four rejections. 

The third episode of The X Factor will air at 8.15pm on Saturday September 5.

Saying it how it is: Zaiga – I am very beautiful woman. I don’t need to work,' said 44-year-old Zaiga Melke as she sang Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again by Andrew Lloyd Webber 

End of the road: 'Netherlands duo Impulse also received four nos