Simon Cowell’s son ‘changed his life’ | Celebrities

Simon Cowell believes that his son saved him from a workaholic lifestyle.

The music mogul, 63, has eight-year-old Eric with Lauren Silverman, and Simon credits his son with helping him overcome his work obsession.

Simon, who has enjoyed huge success with TV shows such as The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, shared: “Before Eric, my life was 99 per cent work – I was obsessed with it.

“I got to the point where it was like, ‘If you don’t rate it, you’re a failure,’ and I stopped enjoying what I was doing and was miserable all the time.

“I was obsessed with the desire to beat my competitors. I took it to a ridiculous level and I got really excited about these things, to the point where I became depressed.’

Simon admits that his television ventures occupied most of his thoughts.

He told The Sun on Sunday: “I’m not banging on the wall but I’d be pulling my hair out, then sitting there at 4am saying, ‘What am I going to do?’ – come up with ridiculous ideas like a six-chair competition.

“You add new elements, then you change something else, then something else, and the next thing you know, you have this Frankenstein’s monster.”

Simon now admits that Eric has completely changed his life and priorities in recent years.

The TV star said: “I was very unhappy. But now Eric is around, I don’t work all night anymore.

“If he had not come, God knows what would have happened.

“It’s sad now to think of me at my age still working until 4am, obsessed with TV ratings.

“The thought of it – I can’t handle it.”