Simon Cowell reveals plans for his son Eric, 4, to take over his music empire — including becoming a Britain’s Got Talent judge
SIMON Cowell has revealed surprise plans for his four-year-old son to one day take over his business – including becoming a Britain’s Got Talent judge.
The music mogul has been secretly mentoring Eric since he’s been able to walk, and believes he’ll be the only candidate to take over the reins.
Speaking exclusively ahead of the launch of the ITV show’s 12th series on Saturday night, Simon told me: “I look at things through his eyes now.
“I want to spend more time with him. I’m lucky because he likes the shows, so he comes down to them with me. I’m sort of training him up.”
As for taking over the franchise he adds: “Oh, a million per cent. I think about that all the time. I would love him to take over. He’s really confident.
"When he comes down here he knows what everybody does. He likes being in the gallery. That will be my dream.”
Eric could get his first major role on BGT as one of the judges replacing David Walliams, according to Simon, who jokes that his time may come “sooner than we think”.
Simon actually still holds David in high regard, even though he’s been mocked relentlessly by the funnyman over the past six series — and beaten to two NTA awards for Best Talent Show judge, which he described as “annoying”.
Simon has described David as “unsackable,” meaning Eric may have to wait until he’s retired before taking his seat.
Simon said: “He’s always been unsackable. The first time I sat down with him, he came to the dressing room when I was doing X Factor and I pitched him the show. We had one of the worst meetings I’ve ever had. It was bad. I thought, ‘This is never going to happen’. Then, a year later, we had another conversation and he agreed to it.
“He and the show are a perfect match. He gets all the craziness and a lot of the people who come on the show are like the people who used to be on Little Britain. That’s why he gets it.”
I’m pleased to say Simon was back on top form when we sat down for the interview behind the scenes at the London Palladium for ITV’s Lorraine.
He suffered a nasty scare last October when a fall at home resulted in a hospital dash and a subsequent re-evaluation of his life.
Recalling the drama, Simon admits he’s now embarrassed by the headlines it caused, particularly as he didn’t do any physical damage.
He said: “In a weird way it was a wake-up call.
“But I will never hear a bad word about the NHS. These people were unbelievable.
“The good thing is you almost have like an MoT when something like that happens, they do every possible test.
“There wasn’t anything wrong. I was probably overtired but I feel better this year than I did this time last year.
“Not so many meetings, not so many late-night calls, a bit more of a balance.”
Keeping David in check is exhausting enough.
READ ON FOR MORE OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE COLUMN
Jamie is the Bond for 'Mie
DANIEL Craig will shoot his final 007 film this year but co-star Naomie Harris hopes his replacement as Bond will be a Jamie rather than James.
She has championed Jamie Bell to slip into his shoes as Bond, two years after The Sun revealed the Billy Elliot actor had spoken to bosses about the spy role.
In an exclusive interview at the premiere of her film Rampage in London’s Leicester Square, Naomie said: “I’d like it to be Jamie Bell.”
There has been plenty of discussion about who Daniel’s successor might be, with Tom Hiddleston, James Norton and Idris Elba also in the frame.
Naomie, who has appeared in the last two movies as the assistant to 007’s boss M, Miss Moneypenny, insists only British actors should be considered.
On the prospect of a foreign 007, she said: “I’m not sure about that. I don’t think so. But anything is possible. We just need to find an actor with the right qualities.”
The as-yet untitled 25th Bond film is due to be released in November next year but Naomie’s future in the franchise is uncertain.
Asked if she will be returning, the actress said: “I hope so. I’ll be super disappointed if I don’t. I have not heard anything.
“They keep us totally in the dark. And I think it’s very wise because then you can’t slip up.”
Producers are clearly as sly as Bond himself.
bizbit
ONE of my favourite country stars, Carrie Underwood, is back with empowering single Cry Pretty, which alludes to an accident last year that left her with 50 stitches in her face.
She said: “It’s emotional. it’s real. And it rocks!”
Zayn confident in the future
ZAYN Malik says he has overcome the anxiety which threatened to derail his solo career.
The former One Direction singer axed several gigs last year over the issue, but now has it under control.
He told Nick Grimshaw on Radio 1: “My confidence has grown in the last year. I really believe in what I’m doing and want to convey that to my fans.”
Zayn released single Let Me on Thursday. The video for it features a lookalike, above right, of his ex Gigi Hadid.
Sure that was planned.
Cuba talking about Chicago
CHICAGO has returned to the West End with more jazz hands and gyrating than ever.
Cuba Gooding Jr plays celebrity lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical crime drama set in Twenties America, but admitted he has been racked with nerves about the role.
Of rehearsals for the show – which runs until October at London’s Phoenix Theatre – he said: “It was horrifying, and as the weeks peeled off the anxiety grew.
“It was only about a week ago I first really felt I was Billy Flynn.”
Chicago previously ran for 15 years in the West End after opening in 1997. It saw impressive star turns from Denise Van Outen, David Hasslehoff and Brooke Shields.
Fingers crossed this new production does just as well.
Ellie's house party
TOP telly talent was out in force for the launch of a plush new branch of private members’ club Soho House.
I was there for the TV-themed party – because the venue is in the BBC’s old building in West London.
As a tribute, Sophie Ellis Bextor, who was joined by her The Feeling bassist husband Richard Jones, performed the EastEnders theme tune.
Other guests included Ellie Goulding, Tamzin Outhwaite, Idris Elba with model fiancee
Sabrina Dhowre, Davina McCall and Alan Carr.
Alan, joined by husband Paul Drayton, would be first to admit the bar menu was exhaustive. But unlike his drinks globe on Chatty Man, nobody could get hold of a Blue WKD and Baileys cocktail.
bizmeter: music
- AWARDS: DUA Lipa isn’t biting her tongue when over ex-boyfriend Paul Jason Klein from rock band LANY. Asked if he congratulated her for her record five Brit nominations, she told GQ: “No, because he’s boring. It was probably best that he didn’t text. I don’t want to hear from him.”
- EUROVISION: EUROVISION contestant Saara Aalto has the skills to become a teacher after the competition in Lisbon on May 12. The X Factor finalist’s song Monsters, for Finland, features 34 languages, including German, Dutch and Spanish. That dedication deserves a few votes alone.
- ALBUM: MUSE look about to please fans with new music. Singer Matt Belamy said: “Our plan for 2018 is to make a bunch of new songs, and probably a new album. We’ll put out a couple of singles and do five or six shows.” It is three years since robotic seventh album Drones.
- SINGLES: Sir Elton John has berated the state of chart music. He ranted: “I just wish people would write better songs. When you listen to even the cheesiest songs from the Fifties and Sixties or Seventies, they’re songs. And there’s a lot of songs in the charts that I can’t sing. It’s just a beat.”