Simon Cowell opens up about family life away from the shows and cameras in an interview this week.
Simon reveals what being a father means to him, date nights with Lauren, his favourite Christmas movie and will he be back on our television screens?
Simon sat down for a chat with OK magazine earlier this week.
Simon on how Eric is doing.
He’s doing great. Year on year it just keeps getting better. Just seeing how his brain changes, it’s quite amazing. He’s a sweet little boy but he’s a lot like me when I was young. I could be really naughty and so can he! I have to say to him, “Eric, Daddy has done exactly the same thing, you can’t fool me.” He’s my best friend, I adore him.
He’s like any seven-year-old. He never wants to go to bed, he wants to stay up and watch another movie, he doesn’t want to eat when he’s told – all the tricks I used to pull! It’s like watching myself. It’s like reliving my childhood which is probably why I love it so much.
What is Simon's daily life like with Eric and does he do the school runs?
Oh, absolutely! More and more when I get time, certainly in the afternoons, I love doing the school pick-ups. He’s now starting to learn how to play football and I really like taking him to training. That’s why he’ll get such a buzz out of meeting Mason – football is the one sport he really does love. Honestly, being a parent is a leveller. I still love my work and everything I do, but always top of the priority list is Eric.
When asked how Lauren is.
She’s doing great. Things like the ball (Together for Short Lives) bring us closer together. She plays an active role in organising it and getting people there. She’s amazing, she’s not just turning up with me on the night, she goes to the hospices, she meets the parents and she’s just amazing with them.
Like everyone, we were in lockdown for a long time and that’s when you realise whether or not you actually enjoy each other’s company or not. And we really, really did.
Does Simon do date nights?
It’s tricky because Eric wants to come for dinner with us and I love having Eric there! We kid about it – Lauren says, “Can we ever go out without Eric?!” And I say “no!” I just love having him with me. But we do occasionally make it out alone.
And what’s fantastic with Eric is that when he does come out with us, he’s not on a phone or an iPad, he’s very present. We’re having drawing competitions, or we’re telling funny ghost stories. He’s great to be around and I love his company. He’s so competitive – if we’re having a drawing competition or something, it’s the most important thing in the world to him, which cracks me up. We have a very similar sense of humour. We get each other. He’s the best.
On the return of Britain's Got Talent next year
There’s a few things we’re going to put in, ideas which I think are brilliant. It was a difficult decision to pull the show last year, but it was impossible to do it and keep everyone safe. But when it comes back, people will realise how much they’ve missed it. Plus, we’ve had a whole year to come up with new ideas. We’re more energised, more refreshed and probably appreciate being on the show more. Having that year off, weirdly, it’s going to turn out to be a good thing. I’m excited about doing it again.
Why Simon stepped down from judging his new show Walk The Line
When I announced that, there was so much speculation, like “What’s going on with Simon? There must be something wrong! Is he never going to do these shows again?” But that’s not the case. There are times where, for whatever reason, you have to make the decision to either stay behind the camera or be on it. And it was one of those things. It’s not like I’m retiring, as people thought. I’m still doing four shows next year between here and America.
Will X Factor ever return?
This year was the first year since we took it off the air, where I realised how much I’d really, really missed it. And I think the public do as well. It was, and is, a brilliant show. There’s no question it will return. I think we did the right thing in resting it, as it was a huge show to produce and I think people were tired. Now when it comes back it will hopefully be a big event.
Simon on his plans for Christmas and his favourite movie
I’ll be going to Barbados and I’ll go on a jet ski. You’ll all see the photos and that’s about it.
I haven’t been in the UK at Christmas for years. Wherever we are we still have a tree and keep it festive, we just do it in Barbados where the weather’s better. We’ll still watch all the best Christmas movies. My favourite is and always will be It’s A Wonderful Life.
Has Eric seen it?
I think it’ll be another year or two before he really gets it. I tried last year but it didn’t work – we’re still on Home Alone mainly, but we’ll get there!
