A HONKY-TONK piano player got a tongue-in-cheek tongue-lashing from Simon Cowell on his latest hit TV show.

Eunice Rhymes was told by television's Mr Nasty "You're almost as old as the piano!" on his ITV show Britain's Got Talent which started on Saturday.

But the cutting presenter met his match in the feisty 74-year old from Honeybourne, near Evesham. Mrs Rhymes, who attended the auditions in Birmingham in February has played in pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and weddings in Worcester since she was a teenager and got a laugh from Mr Cowell and the audience when she complained her piano stool was uncomfortable.

She told him "position is everything", bringing a smile to the normally steely presenter.

She said of Mr Cowell: "He had very white, sparkling teeth. I don't know where he has them done but he would have been a good advert for toothpaste.

"He's very outspoken and he has no tact with people.

"If he was more tactful I would say he's the best judge.

"He said I was a very accomplished pianist."

Mrs Rhymes, who played for many years at Worcester's Fownes Hotel, did not want to play on television again after a string of appearances over the last 20 years, including Bob Monkhouse's Opportunity Knocks in 1989, Des O'Connor's Pot of Gold in 1992, Peak Practice in 1994 and Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People in 1995.

However, the former dress-maker, telephonist and cleaner was persuaded to show she still had her old magic in front of children and grandchildren.

The winner of the show gets £100,000 and the opportunity to play at the Royal Variety Show in front of the Queen.

To find out how Mrs Rhymes does, tune into the show on ITV.