Simon Cowell is almost unrecognisable in photos that have been unearthed from earlier in his career, which show him modelling much longer hair than he sports nowadays.

The entrepreneur, now 64, began his career in the music industry more than four decades ago and he’s gone on to launch shows like the X Factor. Over the course of his time on TV, since being a judge on Pop Idol in 2001, he’s had short hair. He however previously had a longer hairstyle.

Various photos of Simon from earlier in his career have resurfaced in recent years, including some of him with his now ex-partner Sinitta, now 60. One shows the pair stood beside each other at an undisclosed special occasion, with the photo in question believed to date back to 1984.

Simon Cowell (right), beside Sinitta (left) in around 1984, used to have much longer hair ( 
Image:
COLLECT THE MIRROR)

The talent show judge, pictured on a holiday years ago, isn’t known for sporting a long hairstyle though ( 
Image:
PHILIP COBURN)
Simon is seen wearing a grey suit, including a red tie and matching floral lapel. He sports much longer than in more recent years and appears to be holding an order of service. Sinitta – who rose to fame as a singer a few years later – was stood beside him, modelling a white top and skirt.

Another photo, taken on holiday but undated, shows just Simon soaking up the sun in a pair of white shorts and some sunglasses. Although his hair is shorter than the photo that includes Sinitta, it’s still lenghtier than his current look.

Last year, Simon’s previous appearance was mentioned on an episode of Britain’s Got Talent (BGT). Simon has been a judge on the ITV show – which returns later this year for its new series – since it launched on the channel in 2007.

During an episode in the last series, Amanda Holden, now 53, announced that fellow judge Bruno Tonioli, now 68, had made her aware that Simon used to have shoulder-length hair. Amanda seemed surprised by the discovery.

She was heard telling her co-star on the panel: “Bruno was saying today that you used to have shoulder-length hair.” Simon responded: “I did!” His colleague teased that she would research it, with her saying: “I wanna see that.” Simon encouraged against that, replying: “Oh please dont.”

Auditions for the new series of BGT began last month ahead of the show’s return on ITV in the coming months. Simon, Amanda and Bruno are back on the judging panel, alongside their returning colleague Alesha Dixon, 45. The show is presented by duo Ant and Dec, both 48, who recently had Simon as a guest on their other show Saturday Night Takeaway.