Simon loses his grip in X Factor excitement

The excitement at the prospects of X Factor winner Leona Lewis — along with becoming the highest paid star on TV in a £20 million deal with ITV — must be getting to Simon Cowell.

The X Factor judge had a bit of a slip outside the show's wrap party last night when he dropped a brown bottle onto the pavement as he waited for his car.

But what was in the bottle? Could it have been the medication that has kept him normal while having to sit next to fellow judge Louis Walsh?

In fact, the bottle contained a special "X Factor cocktail" — combining peach schnapps, vodka and cranberry into a delicious and mildly numbing drink — which was made especially on the night and handed to guests as they left.

Simon was at the party with his girlfriend Terri Seymour. He was joined by all of the contestants, judges Sharon Osborne and Louis, the Irishman's pal Stephen Gately, presenter Kate Thornton and Sharon's daughter Kelly at the bash at Sound in Leicester Square.

Winner Leona stayed until 1.20am, despite having to be up at the crack of dawn to appear on GMTV this morning.

All credit to her though — she looked astonishingly fresh-faced on the GMTV couch.