Unless you have a fanatical interest in c-list British celebrity, you will probably not have been aware that a British singer and former judge on the British version of X-Factor, who goes by the name of Tulisa, was being tried in a London court today on drugs charges.

The case has been big news in British tabloids, however, not least because the trial is the direct result of a ‘sting’ by the Sun on Sunday. Today, however, the story got even bigger, when the court hearing the case was played a tape recording of a conversation in which a newspaper journalist was told that Cowell was gay.

The journalist in question was none other than everybody's favorite fake sheik, Mazher Mahmood, formerly of the News of The World, now of the Sun on Sunday.

In this case, however, he posed not as an Arabian potentate but as a wealthy film producer and lured Tulisa – who was a judge on the British X-Factor with Cowell – by telling her she was being considered for a £3million lead role in a “Slumdog Millionaire” style movie.

The Sun On Sunday accused Tulisa of subsequently brokering a deal to supply reporters with half an ounce of cocaine.

As part of today’s trial, according to the Mirror, jurors were played a secret recording where the former X-factor judge's manager Gareth Varey told Mahmood that Simon Cowell was gay.

When Mr Mahmood asked Mr Varey off-camera if Contostavlos’ fellow X Factor judge was gay, he replied: "Yes".

When Mr Mahmood asked: "Have you slept with him?" Mr Varey replied, "No".

Asked why he had not, Mr Varey said: "One day I will when I make my move".

Mr Mahmood said: ‘Do you fancy him or not?’

Mr Varey answered: "No".

Mr Mahmood then asks: "How do you know he’s gay?"

Mr Varey responded: "I know people who have.”

Quite what Simon Cowell's sexuality has to do with a drugs charge against Tulisa is hard to say. So just remember folks, just because they played a tape in court that doesn't make it true.

Simon Cowell and girlfriend Lauren Silverman recently celebrated the birth of their first child Eric.