no more mr nasty!

He may be mean on screen, but Simon Cowell is just a big softy really.

Taking time off from berating Americal Idol contestants for murdering Beatles songs (if you've watched any of it, you'll know what I mean) he was touched by the story of three-year-old Madelaine Stoen, who suffers from an aggressive form of cancer, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.when she featured on 'Oprah'.

He decided that he wanted a day off from being 'Mr Nasty' and declared that he wanted to be the little girl's 'Guardian Angel' after finding out that Madelaine's parents were having problems paying their mortgage. The couple take it in turns to travel more than 100 miles from their home each day so that their daughter, who has started losing her hair, can receive treatment.

Cowell greeted the Stoen family on 'Oprah' and told them he had written a cheque for $162,000 to pay off their mortgage.

Cowell said: "It doesn't stop there. If there's any problem, I'm her guardian angel now."

"I didn't know what to do in this situation other than to do something which I hope will help your situation," he said.

"I know you are having problems with your mortgage. As of this afternoon, your mortgage has been paid off."

When Randy Stoen hugged Cowell, the talent show judge said: "I never knew doing good could feel so good."

He then said to Winfrey: "It's taken me 48 years. I credit you with this."

Oprah found the Stoens after a sister of one of their friends e-mailed the show. Amy said she has no idea why Cowell chose to help them, but a spokesperson for the Oprah Winfrey's production company said his gift was planned before the show aired.

Awhhhh bless. We knew he was a good guy really...