SIMON Cowell was pelted with eggs on live television last night as a woman, apparently disguised as a backing singer, gatecrashed the final of Britain's Got Talent.

As Cowell removed his jacket for the rest of the show and wiped yolk from his white shirt, fellow panellist Amanda Holden called the intruder a "stupid cow".

The bizarre incident - branded by some cynical viewers of ITV's flagship talent show as a publicity stunt - resulted in the woman being carted off stage by a security guard during a performance by operatic brothers Richard and Adam Johnson.

Thousands later shared the same joke online that this was Britain's Got Talent and not the Eggs-Factor.

Presenters Ant and Dec congratulated the singers for carrying on the performance and told the audience: "We'd just like to point out that was not part of the performance."

The brothers work in a café and Cowell claimed he assumed it was part of their act and that he "thought they were throwing sandwiches".