Forget your contacts? Simon Cowell appears on TV in his glasses for only the second time

When he wore his glasses on an episode of the X Factor last year, fans speculated that it would probably be the last time he would be publicly bespectacled

But last night, Simon Cowell appeared once more in front of the cameras in his prescription glasses to pay tribute to Oprah Winfrey.

And either he's is rather taken with his Harry Potter-style specs or the music mogul has finally succumbed to the ageing process.

Bespectacled: Simon Cowell left his contacts behind and donned a pair of glasses as he paid tribute to Oprah Winfrey last night

The X Factor boss was part of the second and final part of the Oprah Winfrey Surprise Spectacular aired in the U.S. last night to pay tribute to the chat show queen.

The show comes ahead of her last ever show on Wednesday's, which will mark the end of the show's 25-year run.

First look: Simon's glasses made their debut on the X Factor last year as he spoke to boy band One Direction in his office

Cowell, 51, gave a short speech praising Oprah for her part in promoting new musicians.

Similarity: X Factor fans said Simon looked like an 'ageing Harry Potter'

He added: 'Beyond the music I think your biggest talent is bringing out the best in people.'

He then cheekily added; 'I can also say first hand that you are an excellent kisser.'

It's very rare to see the notoriously vain Cowell in his specs, which made their debut last November on the X Factor.

He was filmed wearing them as he spoke to boy band One Direction in his office.

And fans flocked to Twitter in their thousands commenting on the rimless round pair Cowell had chosen in the VT before his remaining act's performance.

One person wrote on Twitter: 'When Simon Cowell wears his glasses, he looks like an ageing Harry Potter.'

While another added: 'Simon Cowell in glasses looks like a 50-year-old Harry Potter...'

Someone tweeted: 'Simon cowell and harry potter separated at birth :) Loved thoses glasses lol'

But one fan said it was probably the fact that Cowell had forgotten to take the glasses off that viewers ever got to see them, adding: 'I bet you anything you will never see Simon Cowell wearing glasses again!'

Glasses begone! Cowell succumbed to his contact lenses as he posed with Paula Abdul at a Fox event earlier this month