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Simon Cowell Opens Up About Fatherhood, Depression and Taylor Swift in 'Just Like Us' Interview
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00:00On today's episode of Just Like Us, Simon Cowell sits down with us for an honest,
00:05surprising and deeply human conversation. He shares the moment he learned of his late friend
00:10Liam Payne's tragic passing, a moment he still struggles to put into words.
00:14It was not far off how I felt when I lost my mum and dad. You know, I've lost friends before,
00:23but Liam really hit me hard.
00:27Simon also reveals that marriage may finally be on the horizon for him and long-time partner
00:33Lauren, and the hint that made it clear where things might be headed.
00:37The fact that, you know, she talks about changing her name, etc. I mean,
00:40it's quite obvious where all this is leading to.
00:43He opens up about the heartbreak of losing both his mum and dad,
00:47and how that grief reshaped his life.
00:50You know, when you lose both parents, it is heartbreaking. I mean, genuinely heartbreaking.
00:55And he gushes about the joy of fatherhood, the kind of moment that reminds us even global icons
01:01are just like us.
01:03You watch your son's face at his first Christmas when they really get it. I mean, you can't put that into words. It is the best.
01:14Simon Cowell is one of the most powerful figures in entertainment today.
01:22His success isn't just from being a no-nonsense TV personality. It's from his creative genius,
01:28transforming the talent show genre with America's Got Talent and shaping the spirit of American Idol.
01:34He's launched global music careers from One Direction and Little Mix to Susan Boyle and Fifth Harmony.
01:40And he's built a multi-million dollar empire with his instinct for raw talent and knowing what the public wants
01:47before they even know it.
01:49His wealth is estimated at $300 million, and over the years, his larger-than-life habits have included
01:54black toilet paper, gifting a $5 million house to an ex-fiancee, and planning to clone his dogs.
02:01Today, we intend to find out whether these stories are just gossip to create a lavish playboy caricature,
02:08or if in fact Simon is just like us.
02:11Because beneath the glitz, Simon has faced struggles just like the rest of us.
02:15Financial worries, chronic pain from a broken back, losing his beloved mother, and bouts of depression.
02:21Fancy as he may be, he still seems to have a common touch.
02:25How else would someone predict what the public wants to watch and listen to for decades?
02:31Today, we talk to Simon about his extraordinary journey and why he returned to his roots,
02:35putting bands together with his new Netflix show, The Next Act.
02:41Well, Simon, before I tell you what I thought of the show, I want to ask you,
02:45there's so much television on now, why should we watch your show?
02:49Well, it depends what you're into.
02:52I did it this way because I find the music business, the behind the scenes, I've always, since I started,
03:02fascinating, you know, how someone does their job.
03:06So I thought it would be interesting, since I've worked with a lot of groups,
03:11to show everyone, you know, A, how difficult it is,
03:16and then also how you make a decision, why you make a decision.
03:21And to hopefully see where you find these boys who've got no experience whatsoever,
03:27seeing them develop, I think the shows I've been on, you're showing one side of it,
03:35you're not showing the behind the scenes.
03:38And so I thought this time, let's show the behind the scenes.
03:41Well, I have not watched Idol or The Voice or any of those competition shows for years,
03:45and I absolutely loved this show. So I was so emotionally connected to the kids' journeys,
03:51and the narratives made me really engaged. There was no manufactured cheesy glitz,
03:56it was cinematically shot in a way that was really raw and captivating. So congratulations,
04:02you have created some great TV with this show.
04:05Oh, I really appreciate that. Thank you.
04:07Artists from competition shows like Idol or The Voice
04:10don't seem to take off quite like they used to after they win.
04:13What do you think the reason is for that? Is it the lack of the Simon touch on these shows,
04:19or is it something else?
04:20Oh, gosh, I don't know the full answer. I can tell you with this, there was a purpose.
04:26Yeah, there's a purpose. And therefore, because there's a purpose, we sort of had to make it work
04:33in whatever way we could. We were very reactive. And because there was no format,
04:39and no timeline on it, really, it was two years in the making. Every time we needed to do something
04:46to help them, we did it. When something didn't work, we stopped it. Thank you. And then when we
04:52came up with a better idea, we did it. But everything was done genuinely to help the boys.
04:59And then the show sort of came with it. I think sometimes with these shows,
05:05and I've been guilty of that in the past, the show becomes more important than perhaps the people
05:11who come on the show. And that is, you know, I don't feel that way on this. I don't feel actually,
05:19I haven't felt this way on my shows for a while. But there were years where I felt, yeah,
05:25the show is now more important than actually the people who enter. And without the people who enter,
05:31you have no show. I mean, I know that sounds crazy, but it sort of happens, weirdly.
05:37Interesting. So tell me, why are you not giving up on the idea of a boy band when
05:43so many others have?
05:44Well, I did it partly because I just really, really missed working with bands. You know,
05:52of all the artists I've worked with, bands have always been my favorite. It's a completely different
05:57dynamic working with a bunch of people compared to one person. I find it a bit boring working
06:03with one person. Whereas with a band, it's like I said to the producers, first of all, I said, when we
06:10actually hopefully find the band, you'll understand why I've done this. Because the energy that it
06:16brings and the fun that it brings when it works, it's infectious. It's just brilliant. And I genuinely,
06:24genuinely missed doing it. And I thought, okay, if we're going to do it, we're going to have to do it
06:29now. Otherwise, I'll never do it again. And if we are going to do it, why don't we just share the whole
06:35process?
06:36So who do you think is the best boy band ever? Backstreet Boys, One Direction, NSYNC, maybe?
06:43Oh, I would have to say, obviously One Direction. Well, the Beatles, if you want to call them a boy
06:51band, I mean, they were boys and they were in a band who probably wouldn't want to be called a boy
06:55band. But I think, you know, in many ways, they were the first boy band. They were certainly marketed
07:01as a boy band, you know, with the haircuts and the outfits and this and that.
07:05So you would say the Beatles are number one, and then One Direction number two. And so where
07:11abouts would your new band be?
07:13Well, right now, all I can say is I absolutely love them. I genuinely, genuinely like them,
07:19respect them. I think they're really, really, really talented. A lot of that you're going to see
07:25over the next few weeks and months, I hope. How they progressed and how they've handled it is
07:34actually incredible in a lot of ways, you know, bearing in mind, you know, they just haven't had
07:41any experience in the studio or working out social media. I mean, they came to me very, very raw.
07:48I didn't want people who came from stage schools, really. I just wanted regular kids.
07:54I loved seeing the human stories behind the making of this band. The emotional connection
07:59between the audience and these boys is really captivating. It's what makes the show, I think.
08:05On the show, you seem generally worried at times. And I know you told your team on the show,
08:09you'd keep searching as long as it took. Do you still fear failure after all of your success?
08:16Well, at this point, because I did say it ends when I feel happy. So it wasn't like you have to make
08:26a decision on, you know, whatever the date was. It just got to that point where I went, you know what,
08:32it's starting, I think, to work. And more importantly, they're starting to gel with each other and I can see
08:39them working together. So at the point I said, right, we're done. I woke up the following morning
08:48and I went, I really, really think this is a good band. I mean, genuinely, I really, I'm not just saying
08:55that. I really, really like them and I rate them. And I think, you know, people are going to be
09:03surprised over the next few weeks and months, you know, how talented they are and both, not just the
09:09singers, as musicians, as human beings. They're just everything you want in a band. I just love them.
09:19You mentioned that if the band didn't work out, you might be dumb. The average age of retirement in
09:24the UK is 64, by the way, and it's 62 in the US. You're 66. When do you ideally want to retire?
09:31Are you going to work forever? What I said was, I would have to accept
09:36that what I've done in the past, which is putting together bands, if I couldn't do it again,
09:42it would probably be the last time I ever did it. And I really did mean that, because the idea
09:49of doing this and ending up with some awful band who nobody was interested in, just the thought of
09:55it would have been, if it didn't work out, I would have to accept that. You know, if, you know, I was,
10:01I thought something was brilliant, and everyone else thought it was terrible. I mean, that wouldn't be
10:05a great feeling, but I'd have to accept it. And that's what we spoke about at the beginning,
10:13and I meant it. I said, yeah, if it doesn't work, that's it. You really enjoy working like me. So,
10:18I get it. Yeah. I've still got a job. I meant really specifically, I think,
10:25more related to music, because I've done more TV stuff compared to music over the last few years.
10:31So, this is the first real music thing I've done, you know, stand alone for a long, long time.
10:40What qualities do you look for during the audition process?
10:43That was the question I kept being asked by the producers when we first started,
10:47they kept asking me, what are you looking for? And I said, well, I can't tell you genuinely until
10:52that person walks in the room. And when that person walks in the room, you kind of feel a shift in the
10:59energy. It's difficult to describe. Having said that, because you're working with a lot of other
11:05people, sometimes I would like someone, and they're looking at me like I'm nuts. And other times,
11:12they would love somebody, and I'm looking at them like, have you lost your mind? It's subjective.
11:18So, I had to own the process or the decision myself. I didn't tell anyone until about 30 seconds
11:27before I did it. I told Lauren. She went, what? And I went, yes, that's what I'm doing.
11:33You're so good at hiding your expressions on the show. What moment on the show or what
11:39contestant really most surprised you?
11:43Surprised me? It wasn't so much a surprise, it was more of a relief more than anything else.
11:50It was the unknown that scared me, because I realised that we had to see over a thousand people.
11:56And I thought, if you don't see a thousand people, it's not, it's just not going to work,
12:01in my opinion. Um, because about half a percent of the people you see, in my opinion, have a shot.
12:10So, um, so I just realised if we don't see over a thousand people, we don't stand a chance.
12:17So, it was, A, the relief that we got the numbers up, you know, to come out their bedrooms.
12:25And then secondly, that moment of, thank God, when you just see someone for the first time,
12:33and they're kind of everything I like. And they can sing, and they've got personality,
12:39and they're funny, and I don't know, there's just that feeling. It's just brilliant.
12:44In this series, we're all about assessing whether the stars are in fact just like us. And on the show,
12:50there's a lot of evidence that you're not quite like us at all.
12:56You're in your luxury pad in Barbados, and you're in Malibu, you're buying crystals in bulk.
13:01How much money did you spend on these crystals, by the way?
13:04Anne-Marie is part of that, by the way. She told me I was being ripped off, which I was,
13:10when I was buying these crystals. So she told me there's a wholesaler she knows. What she didn't
13:15tell me was they turn up with about 2000 crystals. So, so you have to choose from like thousands. I'm not
13:24kidding. And to some people, they all look identical. To me, it was like the band. I could see
13:34the beautiful ones or the really good ones amongst the pack. So I was trying to save money, actually.
13:41Ah, so you are just like us, because you love a bargain, even though you're buying expensive
13:47crystals. So that's good to hear. Also, you were bulk buying like 50 t-shirts and 50 polo necks to
13:54save money. That is true. I worked out that my 50 t-shirts were less than one of those stupid
14:01little handbags. Your girlfriend Lauren was saying on the show that you're enjoying being filmed
14:06in front of the cameras to make it look like you were down to earth and just like us. When it comes
14:12down to it, do you think you are just a regular guy? I am. Well, I mean, a little bit odd. I try and
14:19make life simple. If I like something, I buy a lot of them. So then I don't have to buy them again,
14:26or maybe they'll stop buying them. So in this particular case with the t-shirts, they're
14:30actually pyjamas, actually. They're not a t-shirt. This is a pyjama top, but it looks like a t-shirt.
14:37Yeah. So you are just like us. You wear a uniform. Mine is usually a denim shirt. Yours is a black
14:44t-shirt. Yeah, exactly. And so when I go to work, it's so easy. I just open up my wardrobe door.
14:51Everything is identical, and I don't have to think about it. During the beginning of your career,
14:56you experienced being deeply in debt, and now you've obviously done very well. Do you think
15:01money makes you happier, or is it just that money makes you less unhappy?
15:06Oh, gosh. Well, I wasn't unhappy when I lost everything because I had my parents. It was a bit
15:13of a wake-up call because I was nearly 30 years old. So when you've lost everything, your house,
15:18your car, everything, and you're still in debt, it's a real kind of like, whoa. And then you go,
15:25actually, it's not as bad as you think, as long as you got support around you. I didn't lose any
15:30friends. My mum and dad were amazing. I managed to pay back what I owed. It took me a few years,
15:38but I don't regret it because I now appreciate what I've got, and I've learned a lot of lessons along
15:46the way, which is, you know, with a credit card, you've got to pay it back. You know, it's not like
15:50you can just buy things. You actually have to pay a bill, but no one teaches you that. When I left
15:56school, your first credit card arrives, it's like, brilliant, I can buy anything, and then you get a
16:01bill. I'm like, shit, I can't pay the bill. And so that was kind of a learning curve.
16:07You know, with success, yeah, money sometimes comes with it. I wouldn't say that has been my
16:18real driving thing, if I'm being honest with you.
16:21So what is your driving interest or passion then?
16:24I think whatever you do, you try and make it successful. I mean, that means a lot to me that
16:31when you make a show, you sign an artist that people watch the show, buy the artist's music.
16:40That in itself is such a buzz still. You know, I really do get a buzz out of it.
16:47That's kind of relatable for everybody that you strive to do the best you can in whatever you're
16:52doing, whether that's being a plumber, a builder, or a music executive. You have pride in your work.
16:58As a multimillionaire, 64 or 66-year-old multimillionaire, how do you know what a
17:0513-year-old girl in Wisconsin is going to want? I found it so intriguing. How do you have such a
17:11genius? Is it all about empathy? Well, I don't know is the answer what that person likes. I do know what
17:20I like. And I do know what a talented person is. I can see when a group merge, if it really works,
17:30and there's a great friendship, that they've got a shot. And then when you hear a great song,
17:39you think, well, if I like it, there's a good chance a lot of other people will like it. When
17:44I heard that K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack for the first time, I mean, I heard these songs and I'm
17:52like, these songs are amazing. I mean, like golden. I mean, it's just such a fantastic pop record.
18:00So I kind of get it why it's successful.
18:05I love that you're not snobby about these things. You seem to really
18:09love popular things like baked beans, for example. Do you ever feel like you'd like to do something
18:15cool? Or do you have any angst about that at all? No, no, no. It's never been on my thing because
18:22I don't like guessing. I've always stayed, like I say, in my lane because I don't have to guess.
18:34You know, so when I make when I'm judging someone on Got Talent, for instance, I kind of know what I
18:40like and what I don't like. You don't always get it right, but I have a pretty good opinion on what
18:47I think is going to work. But like I said, it's when you guess. And I have done that, you know,
18:53in the past when I was working at a record label, you know, one year I suddenly went, you know what,
18:58I think I should get into dance music and honestly failed miserably within three months because I
19:04hadn't got a clue what I was doing. So I thought I won't do that again. I guess pop means popular
19:10after all. And surely that is cool in itself. So I just find that very interesting. Well, funny enough,
19:15going back to Anne-Marie, you know, she reminded me about that the other day, which is, you know,
19:19people, you know, sneer at the word pop, but yes, it's an abbreviation of popular. So that's why
19:26I've always been, you know, driven to pop because it means popular. And also for me, it's fun and it
19:34makes people happy genuinely. So when I see Eric dancing around to the K-pop, you know, Demon Hunter
19:42soundtrack with his friends, it's brilliant. I mean, who wouldn't like that?
19:47As you're in the music industry, I wanted to ask you what song makes you happiest? What song do you
19:53never get tired of listening to?
19:54Probably What Makes You Beautiful, One Direction. I think it's one of my favourite records I ever put out
20:03because, you know, again, I love the band. I was waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting for that record
20:10to come in. And, you know, all the songs, they just weren't there. And then someone said,
20:17oh, a new one's just coming. I think you're going to like it. And I just landed, I was in Miami,
20:22and I asked the guy I was in the car with, do you mind if I play the song? And I put it on. I'll never
20:27forget it. I'm like, Christ, that is effing brilliant. And, and also Bleeding Love, Leona,
20:37actually. I love that. Yeah, I never get tired of those, those two. But, you know, I have a really,
20:48really, you know, broad sense of music. I mean, I love disco. I love the whole 80s era, 90s era.
20:55I love some of the Taylor Swift songs. Taylor is like a master of craft, isn't she?
21:01A hundred percent. Again, I mean, she really knows who her audience is. She knows what a great
21:07pop record is. And incredibly smart. I have a lot of respect for her.
21:14On the show, you seem to make a conscious choice of not spending too much time focusing on the bad
21:20singers, unlike the other shows you've done in the past. Was this a conscious choice?
21:25Well, we only had, I think, six days in total, because we were carving out time. So we realized
21:33we've got to, you know, get the word out that we're doing it, and then do a second wave of, you know,
21:40social media and everything else to get the numbers up. And then it almost went in reverse. I was nervous
21:48that we weren't going to see enough people, and then we were overloaded. So the auditions
21:54were literally in-out, in-out, in-out. So I was seeing something like 300 people a day. So there was
22:02just no time. And it, you know, these episodes are really short, you know, compared to like Got Talent,
22:09which are two hours long. They're like 40 minutes. So the auditions, I think, are about, I don't know,
22:14six minutes or something. And, you know, it wasn't really a conscious decision to go, right,
22:23let's not do that. It just didn't feel necessary, to be honest with you.
22:28Both of us have been in the entertainment industry for decades now. And the world has changed a lot
22:33during that time. I've changed the way I operate in this world and how I cover the stars as an editor.
22:39And it seems like you've changed as well. Was there a moment when you felt you needed to be nicer?
22:45Because on Idol, back in the day, you were known to be this hard-hitting, no-nonsense judge
22:50who says exactly what they think. Well, going back to those days,
22:55when I first started making the shows, again, all I was thinking about was I wasn't really thinking
23:01about the show. I was just thinking, if we don't find somebody good at the end of, you know, you know,
23:0824 episodes, we're going to look like complete idiots. So when all these terrible singers were
23:13coming in, I was just really frustrated and, and, and yeah, nervous and thinking this whole thing is
23:22going to be a disaster. And, um, that's the way it was, you know? Um, and I, at the same, and again,
23:31I wasn't going to lie to these people, you know, when they were telling me, you know,
23:35I'm going to be the biggest star in the world and they couldn't sing a note in tune. I'm not going to
23:39lie to them. I wouldn't do that. Um, some of the other people were going, yeah, yeah, you're amazing.
23:44Just take some singing lessons. And I'm like, I wish it doesn't work like that way. You know,
23:51you've got to be really good to have a shot. If you can't sing a note, then choose something else.
23:56Um, but to your point, when I became a dad, something changes inside you. Uh, and I felt
24:04it immediately from the minute I saw Eric scan, I was a different person. I was obsessed, literally
24:11obsessed. I still am by the way. Um, he, you know, he just changed my life, you know, Lauren as well,
24:18you know, uh, everything. Um, it kind of gave, I know it sounds corny, but it almost felt
24:25it gave me a meaning for what you do. You know, I was quite happy. Uh, I did suffer from depression.
24:35I've talked about that quite a lot because, you know, uh, with what you do, it brings a lot of stress.
24:41Um, lot of things with it. And that does affect you. Um, however, becoming a dad was, you know,
24:51it's the best pill in the world. You know, it makes you happy.
24:55That's something that all parents can relate to. I think that becoming a father changes you
25:00and it makes you approach the world in a different way because you see what your kid
25:04could be potentially going through in every interaction you're experiencing.
25:08A hundred percent. And what happened was I started to see kids on stage and I was thinking
25:15that could be Eric, you know? And, um, so, you know, it definitely changed something inside me.
25:23Yeah, for sure.
25:24It's a lovely thing to watch that development of you in the documentary.
25:28You didn't shy away from the tragic death of Liam Payne that happened during filming
25:33your friend and staff from one direction. Was that important to you?
25:38Oh yeah. I mean, it was, you know, obviously I remember, you know, the moment I was given the news,
25:46you know, and it was, it's difficult to put into words how I felt. Uh, um, I have spoken about this.
25:54It was not far off how I felt when I lost my mum and dad, you know, uh, I've lost friends before,
26:03but, uh, Liam really hit me hard, you know, when, because I was so, I really,
26:13really had a close bond with him. He, you know, he came on my show when, you know, he was very young.
26:20He came back a second time. I'd seen him a year before he'd passed. We'd spent an afternoon
26:26together. You know, we just had the best conversation and we talked about being dads and
26:31everything. So, and he looked amazing on that day. I mean, still, when you think about it and
26:37I talk about it, it's, I mean, it's, it's hard, you know, because you don't, I said this, you don't
26:44know how you feel until you lose, you know, how you feel about someone until you lose them.
26:50And when they're so young, it's, it was, it's tragic.
26:54Is there anything you wish you did say to him in that last conversation?
26:57I genuinely don't know whether it would have made a difference because
27:01the conversation we were having is like, we're talking. And now you and I, you know,
27:05it was like as friends, you know, we were just talking, we were reminiscing,
27:10we were talking about things we liked outside of music and it was just a friend's conversation,
27:15you know, and I didn't, he didn't leave with me going, I'm worried about him. If anything,
27:21I thought he looked amazing. I thought he seemed happier, you know, in, you know, in himself,
27:29you know, he looked amazing. Loved being a dad. You know, we talked about that a lot, you know.
27:36What do you think happened in that time between? I don't know. I genuinely don't know. I mean,
27:42you know, I've met with his parents subsequently. We've talked a lot, not so much about what happened,
27:49but more about him, you know, about how much he loved music, you know, that was his passion,
27:57you know, being successful meant everything to him. He was very proud.
28:06And that was, that was always going to be his life, you know, whether it was, you know,
28:11in a band like One Direction or trying it on his own. He was a really determined, you know,
28:16boy, when I met him, that was always going to be his career. So I, you know, I couldn't read about
28:23anything because I just couldn't. It's very, very difficult. Yeah. But to your point, you know,
28:30when it happened, you know, we paused and yeah, there was a moment where I genuinely went,
28:38should I carry on or not? I just didn't know. And I had to go away for a while and get my head
28:43together. And then I thought about it and it was like, well, I've made a promise to these boys.
28:50Um, so, you know, we're going to meet the parents and talk about it and they can ask me anything.
28:59And then I kind of said, look, it really is your decision. If this is something you really want to
29:06do, you know, and we've spoken about a lot of things during that meeting, you know, think about it
29:12because, you know, the people, uh, who I take forward, uh, more than half are not going to make
29:21the band. And that comes, you know, with, if you're trying to make it well, actually within any career,
29:27if I'm being honest with you, you know, trying to get there, it's hard, you know, it really is tough.
29:33And I, and I can relate to that because I had some tough times, like I said, myself. Um, and, um,
29:39um, but you know, they made the decision and that's why we, you know, we carried on.
29:44We'll get to those tough times in a minute. Um, but I want to thank you for sharing that. Your duty
29:49of care for the boys in the documentary really came across. Um, you seem to really take responsibility
29:55for their development, but I want to talk about something lighter first. One of the delightful
30:00elements of the show is seeing you in your real life, particularly seeing that Simon Cowell has legs.
30:05You're not stuck behind the desk. Like we've seen you for the last few decades.
30:09Somebody said that to me recently, Simon, you can walk. I went, yes, that's what I do most of the day.
30:16Then I realized, you know, like on these clips, all I'm doing is sitting behind a desk with buttons on
30:22it, you know, and they probably think that's all I ever do is just like garlic or something. I just
30:27walk around with a desk attached to me.
30:29I love that you've opened your life and your family up to the camera, seeing you and with Eric and
30:34Lauren is really joyful. I love seeing that Lauren really holds you to account because
30:39I've known you since the beginning of my career in 1999 and you were always a perpetual bachelor
30:44back then. It's just lovely to see you two together. Did it feel vulnerable opening up
30:50that side of your life to the cameras?
30:51Um, the only difficulty was persuading her to do it. You know, I had to kind of like spring it on
30:57her, which is look, I've said yes to this. Uh, and she said, yeah. And I said, and you're in it.
31:03What do you mean? I said, well, look around you. There's a film crew as we're talking.
31:07And she said, well, I didn't realize I'm in it. I said, well, you kind of got to be.
31:11And we were laughing. And then we had a conversation that night. And I said,
31:16I really think, you know, it will be, it will be very difficult to do it without you,
31:21uh, because we're going to film at home. I've said yes. Uh, and I really want you to do it with
31:27me. And then she, she said, yes, she was a bit reluctant in the beginning and then she kind of got
31:33more used to it. And the, I mean, the funny thing about her is watching her back is that she is
31:38identical on the show as she is in real life. I mean, some people have a kind of a camera sort of,
31:45I don't know what you call it, you know, like they're different on camera, but she's not,
31:50she is absolutely identical. And that's what really made me laugh when I was watching the
31:55show back. I was absolutely cracking up at some of the scenes.
31:59The authenticity really came through and I think viewers will really enjoy it as up to now,
32:04there's been a lot of confusion in the media about your relationship and whether you were actually
32:08married. And the doc really got to the bottom of this. It shows Lauren doing paperwork to legally
32:13take your name. You seem really close and inseparable and it's great to see,
32:19but is marriage not important to you?
32:22Well, I mean, it is. I always shied away from saying, it's going to happen, you know,
32:30whenever. I think when we decide to do it, it will be private, you know, and then people will know
32:38about it. But obviously, you know, the fact that, you know, she talks about changing her name,
32:42etc. I mean, it's quite obvious where all this is leading to. So, and, you know, it was kind of good,
32:53I think, to put it out there, you know, because people have speculated, but we have a very,
32:58very close bond, me and Lauren. I mean, I adore her. And, you know, we are, I think, a very happy
33:07family. You know, genuinely, you know, we have a great relationship, the three of us.
33:12One thing I wonder is, as it has just like us vibes, my husband has to live with someone who
33:17has a lack of filter. Yeah, that's me. How does Lauren deal with somebody who's known for being
33:23very direct?
33:23I think she's more direct than I am. I mean, when I was watching it back,
33:29if anyone thinks I'm the blunt one, she's the blunt one.
33:32That's good to hear. You've spoken about losing your parents and how it left you feeling
33:38broken and unsure of your place in the world. You've also been so open about your mental health
33:43struggles, which I think is incredibly important. Can you talk about that period? Was it hard to reach
33:50out for support? Because as a British man of a certain generation, did asking for help feel
33:56difficult? Yeah. Well, I think, you know, being British, we probably both felt the same way when
34:03we first heard about therapy when we were younger. It was very much a Hollywood thing. You know, it was
34:08like you go into therapy because you're a film star, you know, and it was very sort of Hollywood
34:13Californian. And I didn't understand any of it. Then after experiencing the loss of my mum after my
34:23dad, that was the lowest time of my life. Because at that point, I mean, you know, when you lose both
34:32parents, it is heartbreaking. I mean, genuinely heartbreaking. And then probably, yeah, partly because
34:41of what I do, I guess, you know, there is a certain amount of pressure that comes with doing what I do.
34:46But then I think it applies to any job, you know, with with life comes pressure. And there is something
34:52that bottles up sometimes, and you've almost got to take the lid off, you know, and therapy is like
34:59taking the lid off, you know, that you can kind of express yourself without being embarrassed about
35:05saying, look, I, you know, this is what's upsetting me, or this is what's not making me happy. And then
35:11having a trained person who is obviously sympathetic, and just being able to talk, you know, not, not, I
35:21wouldn't say I'm not a whiner. But I have, at times, yeah, definitely on reflection, had what you would now call,
35:32you know, what, how would you call it, I mean, I've suffered from depression. And I've definitely,
35:42definitely needed therapy, there's no question. And it really got me through some hard times.
35:47It's funny, being British, we're taught to equate honesty with whining. So just to keep calm and carry
35:54on. But keeping those feelings inside really doesn't help anyone. So it really matters when someone is
36:01visible and as famous as you talked openly about this and what they've been through. So
36:06I'd like to thank you for that. What struck me reading back on your story is that despite being
36:12an extrovert, you're actually quite shy, and deal with social anxiety. How do you navigate that?
36:19Well, as a kid, I can vividly remember probably being about eight or nine,
36:25and being told I had to go to some party, and trying to convince my brother not to go because
36:32I really didn't want to go. And it was actually worse than I thought. And there's actually a picture,
36:38I wish I still kept it of me looking really pissed off at this kid's birthday party, because I just
36:46didn't want to be there. Because even though I had a lot of friends, I meeting new friends,
36:52I found it quite difficult. And then weirdly, you know, when I started off in my career in the
36:58music business, and someone said, like, for the first time, you're going to the Brits.
37:03And I went there, and I lasted 10 minutes and walked out because it was just too overwhelming for me.
37:10Going to a party where you've got to stand up for 30 minutes before the party starts and make small
37:15talk is honestly my idea of torture. And then weirdly, because I did something where people
37:24know me, it really helped because we have an it's like a an instant icebreaker. So someone can come
37:31up and talk about how I like so and so on the show. And instantly I can talk because I don't have to
37:38just have a conversation, which I don't know where to start. I mean, I'm just I mean, Anne-Marie will
37:45tell you, I mean, Lauren's the opposite. She just wants like 20 people per week at the house. And I'm
37:52like, Oh, please, God, no, let's go out. No, I don't want to go out. I'm just good around my friends. But I'm
38:00not I do. Yes, I'm still shy. I mean, even though we record in front of like 4000 people,
38:07and I really appreciate the fact they've turned up, I kind of can deal with that. But I still
38:14consider myself, yeah, shy. I'm the same, just like us. I put on a persona to get through these
38:21situations. I think maybe I'm an introverted extrovert as I get older. Yeah, that's a good
38:26way of putting it. It's lovely to see your son, Eric, on the show. You said that having kids changed
38:31you and we can see it on the show and even in your social media where your Halloween cost
38:36get more elaborate every year. This year's inflatable slop was incredible. Do you feel
38:43fatherhood has brought out more of your fun, childish side? Yeah, very much so. I mean,
38:49going back to being a kid, I mean, apart from the shyness, I had a really, really happy childhood
38:54because I had a great mum and dad and they were fun. And my mum in particular, I mean,
38:59she was hilarious. And, you know, lots of brothers and sisters. So, you know, I just had,
39:06apart from not liking school, I really enjoyed, you know, my childhood memories were really,
39:12really good. So with Eric, I was able to relive everything I loved. So all the movies are like
39:18Jungle Book and all that kind of stuff. We just started watching all over again. And then Christmas
39:24becomes an event, Halloween becomes an event, Easter becomes an event, all the things that you sort of
39:29grow out of, you go back into. And it's just amazing. I mean, you watch your son's face at his
39:37first Christmas when they really get it. I mean, you can't put that into words. It is the best.
39:44That's very just like us. You get high off regular everyday things like everyone else does.
39:51What is Christmas morning like in the cow house?
39:53Well, I mean, I believe in Father Christmas. I'm not sure he does anymore.
40:02He asked me recently and I went, well, of course he's around. How do you think the presents arrive?
40:07I'm a great believer in believing, if that makes sense. You know, it doesn't do you any harm.
40:14It's like believing in magic, you know, just believe in it. I think it does you more good,
40:21you know, doing that kind of stuff and just embracing it. Some parents are all like, oh,
40:27no, of course it doesn't exist, you know, blah, blah, blah. I'm the complete opposite. You know,
40:31it's like, no, just, you know, encourage all of that imagination. I think it's good for you.
40:36So there'll be stockings and Santa will be bringing presents.
40:39Oh, yeah. Well, yeah, it's mince pies. It's open up one present the night before Christmas.
40:47Then I know Christmas morning, I can see which one's been slightly opened.
40:52Uh, then, uh, we, uh, yeah, the mince pies come, uh, come out again. And then it's around about
41:02midday, the presents are opened, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And it's, yeah, we celebrate it.
41:07Yeah. And we've got a tree up now.
41:09Moving on to a more serious time in your life, you went through something incredibly intense when you
41:14broke your back. What was it like to hear you might not be able to walk again? And how would you
41:20describe the pain of that experience? Well, both were bad. I mean, uh, I, I knew in the
41:25instant that it happened that I'd broken my back, I could just feel it, you know, because it was such
41:30a bad fall. And, uh, or the first thing I did was, okay, I can move my hands. I can move my feet.
41:36So it's not the end of the world. The pain was unbearable. And actually, uh, you know, once I,
41:44and they were amazing, the ambulance service, they just said, which hospital do you want to go to?
41:48And I literally said the nearest one, I don't care. And we got there. And then the surgeon
41:53arrives, you know, we did the x-rays. He showed me the x-ray and he said, look, I'm not going to
41:58lie, Simon. It could go either way. I just don't know. It's so bad. And you, there's a possibility
42:03you may not walk again. Uh, and all I was thinking was the pain is so unbearable. I just want to get
42:10the operation done, you know, because I was in so much pain. And then when I woke up, I thought,
42:15that's not too bad. And he said, oh no, there's pain blockers inside you. They'll wear off in three
42:21days. Then you'll know. And that was, whoa. Then you had to spend three months not moving,
42:27right? Yeah, pretty much. Uh, it was difficult to explain to Eric, first of all, because, you know,
42:32how do you explain to a six year old that your dad, you know, literally can't move. And because I had,
42:38I still have, you know, metal rods in my back and screws. Uh, I said, you know, like Iron Man,
42:44he went, yeah. I said, well, I'm sort of like Iron Man at the moment. So I've got a lot of metal in me,
42:48but I'll heal. And, um, and then that first day, you know, where someone sort of pushed me outside the
42:55house and said, you, you're just going to have to start walking, Simon, you know, because it's time.
43:00It was, that was an amazing feeling. And then a couple of months later, I realized how unfit I was
43:06before the accident, because I had to do X amount of steps per day and it, and my feet were bleeding
43:12and everything. It was like, wow, maybe it was meant to happen. Uh, seriously. Uh, I mean,
43:18I wouldn't recommend it. Um, but the good news is I'm fitter now than I was before. Um, so I always
43:28believed that certain things actually happened for a reason. And I think it sort of did happen
43:33for a reason. It's remarkable that you learned something so positive from something so dreadful
43:37and that it actually changed your life for the better. Also on the medical front, you're known
43:43for indulging in treatments for anti-aging and things that can extend your life.
43:47What's the thing that's worked the best so far? Well, cutting down the booze definitely helps. So what I
43:54do is I mix the lowest alcohol beer I can find, which is a Corona Premier or a Skinny. Skinny is very
44:02good, by the way. Um, I mix it one third beer, two thirds soft drinks are like a Shandy. Um,
44:11so it looks like I'm drinking a bottle of beer, but actually it's like really drinking,
44:16you know, a soft drink. Yeah. With a tiny bit of beer in it. Now, I thought you were going to say some
44:22fancy sister, but you're saying something that we can all afford to do, which is great. Just
44:27cutting down on booze. Is that cigarettes? Yeah, obviously I vape, but I think, I mean,
44:34who knows? Uh, I feel better not smoking cigarettes compared to vapes. I do take NAD,
44:41um, which I think is amazing. Friends have recommended that to me as well.
44:47Look, again, it comes back to belief. I mean, you've really got to believe that it works. And I
44:53actually, looking at my schedule this year and it was busy this year. I mean, I'm not like I've been
45:00on previous years at this time of the year where I'm just totally fried. You know, I'm not, I'm not
45:05feeling that way. So it must be doing something. And then also taking out some, a lot of the stress
45:13out of your life. I mean, you know, and that includes, you know, getting the bad people out
45:19of your life, you know? Um, and I'm, I'm very fortunate that the people who I work with now,
45:26finally, and it is finally, I've got to a place where, you know, they're just great people. We,
45:36we're, we work well together. We're very supportive. Um, I, I, I'm very strict on stopping work at
45:45five 36 o'clock, not getting so wound up about stuff because stress is a killer. I mean,
45:51an absolute, it really will. It will kill you. It will kill you. Thank you for sharing that with
45:56the readers, because that's a good reason for everybody that everybody could try and
46:01to do and have boundaries and to cut people out of if they're bad for you.
46:05Well, you know, sometimes you learn the hard way, you know, sometimes you think someone
46:10is a good person. You find out, unfortunately they're not, it happens. Um, but once you know
46:16they're bad, they're out, right? So that happens. But yeah. And that's why I'm saying it's not just
46:22because it's who, what I do for a living. It applies to anyone. You know, there's always
46:29someone I know, a friend who's got a different job and we always have the same conversation.
46:34Literally that we're all worried about the same things. You know, we're all happy about the same
46:39things basically. And then the common denominator is always there's somebody who's a bad person in
46:46your life and you've got to get them out of your life. Seriously. Seriously. We're all the same when
46:50it comes down to it. And to end our interviews, we have a game where the celebs showing what's on
46:56their phone, but you don't have a phone. That's how you reduce your stress, right?
47:01That's how I reduce my stress. Exactly. So you've never taken a photo on your phone. Not, you don't even
47:08have a phone. Well, I haven't had one for about eight years. Um, I mean, I've got a phone which is in,
47:16it's there if I need it, but I never need it. I don't even know how to, this is true. I don't even know
47:22how to switch it on. Good for you. I wish I could do that. Has Eric asked for a phone at all?
47:28Yes. And I've said to him, look, I managed without one. So you can wait a couple of years. Uh, just
47:35watch a movie with me. You'll be happier. Um, and that's kind of how I get around it. I do think
47:41it's become almost crazy. The amount of people who are, I would say addicted to their telephones.
47:49Um, it's so much more fun watching something on a large screen and not worrying about, you know,
47:57your life in a stupid, bloody telephone. I mean, they are boring. I think they're boring.
48:04It's just like the dopamine hits of attention that we now crave from social media. How will you
48:10deal with that proposition with Eric? Uh, I mean, like I said, because I, I don't go on social media.
48:19I have social media things myself and I post things occasionally, but I don't go on social media.
48:27I don't go on news sites. I don't watch the news. You know, I live in a bit of a bubble. I talked about
48:33that a lot recently, you know, a bubble I've sort of created for myself. I might write a book actually
48:39called the bubble about how even in today's world, you can sort of choose your own path
48:47without being bombarded with too much information. Cause I don't think we're equipped
48:53to deal with the amount of information that, that is available to you. If you are on your phone
49:00all day long, it's just too much. I mean, genuinely too much. And that's something everybody can do.
49:05Set the boundaries to your life. Who do you want to spend time with? What do you want to do and be
49:11intentional about that? And I love the idea of a Simon Cowell self-help book.
49:16And then also focus on what you enjoy without a telephone. So if you are going to watch a great
49:21movie or TV show, do it without looking down on your phone because you'll enjoy it more.
49:27If you're playing Monopoly together and someone's playing on their phone, when you've just got,
49:33I don't know, Piccadilly in Leicester Square and you're happy and they're looking at their
49:38telephone, it's the most annoying thing in the world. That's really good learning. So now it's
49:42just time to find out how just like us is Simon Cowell really? It's a quick fire round of questions
49:49that will come fast. Answers will come faster and there's no hiding from your humanity. Are you ready,
49:55Simon, to prove whether you're just like us? Let's do it.
49:58The last time Simon Cowell stood in line for something.
50:06I think it was for, no I'll tell you what it was actually, and I'm not kidding, it was
50:13Beaconsfield service station ordering a fish burger about two months ago.
50:19I did think, you know, where you order it on the thing, you push the button, blah, blah, blah,
50:25and then you stand in line, wait for your number to be called and your fish burgers are right.
50:30Ah, good. No assistance there. When was the last time you did laundry or took out the trash?
50:36Actually, quite recently, I did a clear up two days ago for some reason. There was just paper everywhere.
50:45So I did the clearing up. I do put my own laundry in a laundry bag because I don't, I can't bear it when I see
50:57clothes lying around on a bathroom floor or something. It really bugs me. So I'm very good at that.
51:04Well, how long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
51:07A long time. Here's the process. Breakfast, bath, get out the bath, go on my bike,
51:19come back home, then have a shower. So all in all, if you include the breakfast,
51:27the bath, the bike ride, the second shower, two hours.
51:32A second shower. That's quite a luxury. I do hope you moisturize. When was the last time you got up in
51:40the middle of the night for a sick kid? Oh, three weeks ago. Yeah. Eric woke me up at one in the
51:49morning because I always say to him, if you're not feeling good, wake me up. I got a tap. I had a look at
51:56him. He was hot. I took him downstairs. He wasn't well. Then I went upstairs with him,
52:05put him to sleep. And then two hours later, he came down again. And then we ended up putting a
52:12mattress down by the side of the bed and he slept with me. Last time you got a driving ticket and what
52:18was it for? Well, actually, a while ago, I think it was, actually, I don't know what it was for,
52:24actually. It wasn't anything nuts. It was like doing two miles over the speed limit or something.
52:33You've been held to account and you're just like us. Thank you, Simon, for sharing your wisdom
52:39with and your incredible journey. Thank you for showing us that stars are just like us. Well,
52:45sometimes, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
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