Paula Abdul has lashed out at her fellow American Idol judge Simon Cowell — branding him a “masterful bully”.

Judge dread: Simon Cowell with new judge Kara DioGuardi

While the high-waisted music mogul has become a cult figure in Britain for his honest put-downs, they seem to have rattled our more sensitive cousins across the Pond. Cowell and Abdul, 46, haven't been seeing eye to eye on the latest series of American Idol. She said: “He's a bully, he's a masterful bully.”

Battling: Abdul said she and Cowell nearly came to blows

Cowell, 49, is on UK television screens in ITV1's Britain's Got Talent, although those auditions were shot months ago. He is currently shooting the live finals of Idol in America, being shown on ITV2.

Pop star Abdul, asked whether Cowell had the biggest ego among the judges, replied: “Without a doubt. The first day I went to work on season one I quit seven times because I couldn't believe that someone was actually getting away with crushing fragile kids.

“This happens behind your back. I couldn't take the pain that I saw, and I think, being an artist who has had success, it's very vulnerable when you are the talent. And when someone attacks you with criticism that isn't constructive, sometimes it's hard to take.”

The pair almost came to blows on this week's shows over a decision to save contestant Matt Giraud. Cowell was seen trying to pull Abdul down by her dress when she stood up during the singer's performance, leading Abdul to say: “For a moment there I thought we were going to have to duke it out.”

Cowell, Abdul and regular Randy Jackson are this year joined by songwriter Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge.

Cowell was on the receiving end of more criticism this week when he appeared on cheeky Scot Craig Ferguson's US chat show. Boasting that he knew Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle would be “fantastic”, the host branded him a “lying sack of c**p”.