Simon Cowell's family life – secret affair, engagement 'mistake' and becoming a dad

Most people will know him for propelling an impressive slew of musicians who have stormed their way to success after taking part on one of his various popular talent shows.

And after two years off screen, the head judge Simon Cowell has returned for the 15th series of Britain’s Got Talent, alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.

It’s fair to say that fans of the show have been blown away by the latest heart-stopping acts which have taken to the stage so far, from mind-boggling magic tricks to tear-jerking singers.

But away from the judging panel, the 62-year-old prefers to keep his relationship and family life out of the media as much as possible.

As loyal viewers rush to their screens to watch the latest instalment of the beloved ITV show, Daily Star has taken a deep dive into the music mogul’s family life away from the cameras.

Secret affair

Simon first met his betrothed Lauren Silverman while at Sandy Lane resort in Barbados back in 2004 where she was soaking up the sun with her then-husband estate agent Andrew Silverman.

From the get go, Simon and Andrew hit it off but some sources told Us weekly have revealed the business mogul also had eyes for the brunette beauty early on.

But the pair went their separate ways as Simon continued to date other women including entertainment journalist Terri Seymour and makeup artist Mezghan Hussainy.

The pair even went on to get engaged for a year in 2011 before they called it off with the judge later claiming it was a “big mistake.”

After two failed relationships, the business mogul went back to the 44-year-old New York socialite even though she was still married.

It is understood the couple secretly started dating with some sources even attributing the start of their romance stretching back to 2009.

But when the brunette beauty became pregnant in 2013, the happy couple were forced to make their relationship public.

At the time, Simon told The Mirror: “It’s not something I am proud of or wanted to happen in terms of hurting anyone. It just happened.”

Loving children

Soon after they declared their love for each other, Lauren’s husband filed for an at-fault divorce, citing adultery as the main reason behind their separation.

The pair finalised their divorce in November 2013, which included a strict stipulation that prevented Simon from meeting the couple’s son Adam, 16, until January 2015, or face a fine of £39,000.

On Valentine’s Day in 2014, Lauren gave birth to their beautiful son Eric – who was named after Simon’s father, and it’s clear to see that fatherhood has softened the stern head judge.

He told viewers on The Kelly Clarkson Show in May 2021: “From that moment I saw the [ultrasound] scan, I was like, ‘That is it, I’m besotted’.

“Now, I just cannot imagine my life without him. He’s the most amazing thing that ever happened to me. I adore him.”

But the birth of his now eight-year-old son was a huge change for the music mogul, as he confessed. the first eight or nine months was a difficult time for the star in terms of bonding with his child.

He told Entertainment Tonight: “During the first eight or nine months I was thinking, ‘I don’t think he likes me very much’.

“He does remind me of me when I was younger because he knows how to try it on and how to get away with things.”

During the global pandemic, the X Factor boss told The Mirror how he had no plans of having any more children in the future with his loving partner Lauren.

He explained: “I don’t think I will have more kids. I’m 58 and Eric is amazing.

“I was talking to Cheryl about this, its destiny, you look at the kids and why would you want to change anything else?”

Simon remains hopeful that his son will take over his impressive business one day as he continues to strive in the music industry.

He told Extra: “I actually think [Eric’s] probably the best incentive I’ve ever had to keep everything running as well as I possibly can over the next few years.”

But the TV judge has made it perfectly clear he doesn’t want his son to apply for Britain’s Got Talent in the future.

The telly favourite confessed he would be “petrified” if his son auditioned on the programme – especially as he’d fear that his act could go wrong.

Epic proposal

After 13 years together, the doting dad finally plucked up the courage to get down on one knee and pop the question to his loving partner on Christmas Eve.

In January, the X Factor star booked a trip to Barbados where the couple first met back in 2004, but to make the memorable moment even more special he recruited his son Eric to help him with the proposal.

While appearing on Entertainment Tonight, Simon confessed: “One hundred per cent [Eric] had to coach me. And we planned it. He was a big part of it.”

He went on to explain how the pandemic had forced him to reconsider his original stance on marriage after he previously branded the concept “boring.”

Simon went on: “I think after everything all of us had gone through over the past two years, it has changed our lives in so many ways.

“Family is everything and that is what I kind of took away from it.”

Lauren’s teenage son was also a part of the proposal on the family holiday, as the brothers eagerly awaited to hear her answer.

The mum-of-two was said to have “burst into tears” when he got down on one knee and presented her with the £250,000 diamond ring.

For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk