Simon Cowell has shared the secrets to his success during a surprise visit to Selhurst's Brit School.

The music mogul also revealed that Croydon's X Factor hero Ben Haenow will make a return to the show for this year's series.

Cowell held a question-and-answer session with students at the performing arts school, which has spawned a raft of star talent, yesterday.

He told them: "Enjoy this time. The getting there is the most fun of this job

"The second I pulled up I thought, 'Why didn’t I go to a school like this?' I would have loved it, because I hated school so much. I was so bored, it was so dusty and old-fashioned. 

"You walk in here, everyone’s having fun, there’s a good energy, you can tell they love being at the school, and just, enthusiasm and optimism."

The record label boss confirmed Haenow would return to our screens at some point during this year's X Factor and discussed his self-titled debut album, which will be released in November - 11 months after he won last year's series.

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Cowell dropped into students' lessons

He told pupils: "We’ve taken our time on Ben’s record and Fleur [East]’s record intentionally. Because you can’t make a good record in five minutes.

"So I’ve started to read a lot of stuff recently, you know people saying where have they gone, this is an example that no one can do well on these shows, and I’m thinking yeah, wait till you hear their records because I’ve already heard them."

"We’ve kept it quite low key, they’ve got on with their job and worked hard, they’ve both, I think, found the sound that suits them. They’re going to both obviously come back on the show, and I think both first singles are sensational, I mean, really good records."

"There’s always a lot of cynicism, you know, can anyone who goes on these shows, can they actually have a career and I think over time we’re beginning to prove a point."

Among the classes Cowell visited were a dance class, computer class and a recording studio.

He watched two students performing in the studio, and congratulated them after their session, saying: "That was great."

The two students – Dayo Bello and Rehaim West – who are both studying music at the Brit School – were ecstatic.

"It was a little nerve wracking," said 17-year-old Rehaim, from East Dulwich.

Rachel Chrystie, 17, of south Croydon, spoke to Cowell during a set design lesson. He said: ""It’s quite nice to see he’s interested in stuff like set design, not just people on stage.

Cowell visited the school and the Nordoff Robbins music therapy facility on its grounds ahead of being honoured at this year’s Music Industry Trust Awards. The awards are held to raise money for the school and the charity.

The Brit School's alumni include Adele, Jessie J, Leona Lewis and the late Amy Winehouse.