SIMON Cowell has been named one of “the most influential people in Brighton”.

The X-Factor judge, who does not live in the city, was placed third in the Brighton Power 100 rankings.

Cowell’s late mother used to live in Rottingdean.

Judges, organised by lawyer Nicholas Taylor, agreed Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom was the city’s most influential person.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas came in second place.

But she was the only Member of Parliament in the city to be included in the list despite the inclusion of Brighton and Hove city councillors Alex Phillips, Robert Nemeth and Dee Simson.

Cllr Nemeth was ranked in 33rd place, one below reality TV star Katie Price, who does not live in Brighton either.

Meanwhile Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, who lives in Mid Sussex, was deemed more influential than boxer Chris Eubank Jr and online star Alfie Deyes.

Five YouTubers were included in the list, including Zoe Sugg, Deyes’ girlfriend, at number four.

The couple used to live in Brighton but have moved away.

Marzia Kjellberg, wife of YouTube megastar Felix “Pewdiepie” Kjellberg, was ranked 12 places above her husband despite closing down her online channel last year.

Pewdiepie was named in 52nd place, one below Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Marianne Griffiths.

Millionaire property developer Mike Holland, who was jailed for nine months for manslaughter in 2017, was named the 34th most influential person in Brighton.

Brighton and Hove Pride organiser Paul Kemp found himself in 62nd place.

Ice cream shop owner Jon Adams was placed above him in 61st.

Pink Floyd guitarist and Hove resident David Gilmour was named 74th most influential, behind former Big Brother winner Jason Burrill and Crowborough resident Cate Blanchett.

And businessman Hugh Dennis, who featured on The Argus’s front page when he laid out his plans for the King Alfred leisure centre, was a new entry on the list at number 87.

Rizzle Kicks members Harley Alexander-Sule and Jordan Stephens were placed in 92nd and 100th respectively.

The hip hop duo have not released an album for six years.

Brighton Power 100 president Mr Taylor congratulated those on this year’s list.

“Brighton is a vibrant seaside resort known as ‘London by the sea’ and made up of an eclectic community with a diverse architectural history,” he said.

The list’s rules state that all those on it must “live, work or conduct business in Brighton or surrounding areas”.

But judges could make exceptions in “special” cases.