Simon Cowell had to undergo an emergency brain scan after he was found unconscious at the bottom of his staircase by his security team.

The music mogul, who is thought to be skipping tonight's first X Factor live show while he recovers from the ordeal, had fainted and fallen down the steep stairs in an early-morning mission to fetch some hot milk.

Bodyguards alerted by the noise rushed to find their boss had collapsed and immediately called emergency services to get help.

Simon spotted returning home after his hospital ordeal
He looked tired and grey as he revealed he had concussion from his fall

Paramedics arrived soon after and, having initially been reluctant to move him because of fears he'd broken his back, eventually took him to hospital using a special spinal board to keep his neck and spine in place.

Once Simon had been taken to Chelsea and Westminster NHS Hospital he was given a brain scan - known as a CT or computerised tomography - which checks for blood clots, tumours, internal injuries or signs of aneurysm.

He had reportedly been feeling dizzy when he woke up yesterday morning, which was why he'd got up to get some hot milk.

Simon was lucky not to injure his neck or spine in the fall

Simon, who is known to be a heavy smoker, also underwent MRI scans on his neck, back and spine to check for any signs of injury.

Luckily the X Factor boss was feeling well enough to be discharged later on Friday afternoon - but he's been given a blood pressure monitor to wear to keep track of his heart.

Simon described the experience as "a real shock to the system", according to the Sun , and told press outside his house that he had concussion.

He managed to give a thumbs-up as he returned home wearing a blood pressure monitor

He added that he "didn't know" about returning for tonight's live show, but said he would be back on The X Factor "soon".

His girlfriend Lauren Silverman was forced to rush home from New York when she heard about Simon's collapse and was said to be distraught.

She'd been looking after her elder son Adam when the news came through, but had to rush to the airport and jump on the first flight back to London.

Little Eric - the son Simon and Lauren share - was in the house at the time of his dad's collapse but was luckily being looked after by a nanny by the time paramedics arrived.