X FACTOR boss Simon Cowell has told a TV news website he wants the UK to remain as "one big happy family".

The entrepreneur television producer and talent show judge is the latest celebrity to offer his opinion on the debate.

His comments came as the founder of one Scotland's biggest travel agents, Bill Munro, now a part-time director of Barrhead Travel, warned that independence would be "a complete disaster" for his business.

Cowell said: "My mum's maiden name was Dalglish so I have Scottish blood in me. Personally, I would like us all to be together.

"It is their decision obviously. But I would prefer us to remain one big happy family."

Another celebrity, Scots actress Rose Leslie, who stars in the hit shows Downton Abbey and Game Of Thrones, said she had a "real concern about independence".

Meanwhile, in a memo to 800 members of staff, Mr Munro said the prospect of a Yes vote in September's referendum was "an impending disaster".

He accused the SNP of peddling "lies" about independence and claimed his company would not be able to trade outside Scotland if independence disrupted the country's membership of the EU.

The memo was written in February but yesterday Mr Munro, now a non-executive part-time director of the firm he set up in 1975, said: "In response to an increasing number of questions from Barrhead Travel employees regarding my views on the referendum, I decided to share my personal opinion which is that independence would not be good for Scotland, its businesses or its consumers.

"One of my main concerns is that of the financial protection of the Scottish travelling public which would be under threat in an independent Scotland.

"Second to that is the uncertainty of cross-border trading which I believe will be impacted negatively. The opinions expressed are my own and not those of the company."

His comments were seized on by East Renfrewshire Labour MP Jim Murphy, who said: "Barrhead Travel is yet another example of an employer in Scotland saying that being part of the UK is better for their business.

But Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, chief executive of the pro-independence campaign group Business for Scotland, said: "Business for Scotland would be happy to outline the overwhelming case for independence to Bill Munro and let him see why we believe it is the opportunity of a lifetime."

A spokesman for the Yes Scotland campaign said: "A Yes vote is about placing Scotland's future in Scotland's hands and moving on from a Westminster system that simply doesn't have the X Factor."