Simon Cowell is grateful that becoming a father to son Eric changed his life

Simon Cowell is grateful that becoming a father to son Eric changed his life.

The 65-year-old music mogul welcomed his only child into the world with his partner Lauren Silverman in 2013 and thinks that becoming a father filled a void that was left by the death of his parents, Eric and Julie, in 1999 and 2005 respectively.

Simon told People magazine: "I loved my parents so much, and once they left, I was kind of lost for a while. Eric saved me because that love comes back 100 times more powerful. It's extraordinary, and it never goes."

Simon has created shows such as 'The X Factor' and 'America's Got Talent' during his career and is delighted that Eric, 11, is a fan of such programmes.

He added: "Fortunately, like me, Eric loves these kinds of shows. He's more shy than me, but that could change. I think he'd be a really good producer. I would love that. I mean, that would be my dream."

'America's Got Talent' recently returned to screens for a milestone 20th season on NBC and Cowell believes that the show has the potential to continue for another two decades and hinted that Eric could be involved in some way in the future.

The star, who has been a judge on the programme since 2016, said: "I'm now looking at the next 20 years of this show and wondering where it goes next. I really do have this feeling that whether it's me or whether it's Eric, you're going to be having this conversation with us in 20 years' time, because I can't imagine this show not being on."