Sinitta has described her marriage to Andy Willner as a "revenge move" aimed at Simon Cowell

Reflecting on their connection, Sinitta said: "I was trying to make that relationship 'it'."

She added: "His narrative was just be patient, and you'll have everything you want.

"I assumed everything I wanted meant a normal family life with him. And then he met the love of his life and had a child. Silly me."

Sinitta and Simon's romance spanned more than 20 years before they settled into a friendship, with the performer later appearing regularly on Simon's television shows, including Britain's Got Talent.

Sinitta married Andy in 2002, and the couple adopted two children, Magdalena and Zac.

She said of the marriage: "The man that I married was actually a lovely person. It was a bit of a revenge move at the time, but it developed into something.

"But even during that relationship, it was obvious that there was unfinished business (with Simon.)"

The marriage ended after seven years, with Andy later moving to Hong Kong.

Sinitta added she found herself entering what she described as "retaliation relationships".

She said: "It would be, 'Well, if he's done that, then I'll date Brad Pitt, I'll date this model'.

"But always intentionally thinking we will be together when we stop being crazy.

"Because I would have been ready to go at any time, but it was like my pride needed me to go and have a retaliation relationship to show I'm not desperate."

Despite the history, Sinitta remained close to Simon's fiancée, Lauren Silverman, 48.

Simon and Lauren began dating in 2013 and share a son, Eric, 12, to whom Sinitta is godmother.

Sinitta added of her friendship with Lauren: "So I did a lot of, I think, self-harm by trying to squash all my feelings."

Speaking about when Simon and Lauren announced they were expecting a child, Sinitta said it felt like the "end of an era".