Simon Cowell has a new project that is an exciting career opportunity, but it is also a way for fans to get to know him better as he takes them on a journey behind the scenes. The Netflix docuseries, “Simon Cowell: The Next Act,” is a six-episode series focused on finding the next big boy band. But it almost didn’t happen because the “America’s Got Talent” judge was heartbroken.
Simon Cowell Shares Heartbreak
Cowell reflected on the sudden and unexpected death of Liam Payne on October 16, 2024. Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. He was 31. Payne and Cowell worked closely after he discovered the musician and the other members of One Direction, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson, when they auditioned on “The X Factor.” Upon learning of Payne’s passing, Cowell was unable to film, and production for the docuseries was temporarily paused. “I was in pieces, I’m not going to lie,” he said in an interview with Page Six on Saturday, December 6.
The journalist responsible for the interview noted that he has known the former “American Idol” judge for over 20 years. In that time, he had never seen him cry. However, when Cowell learned of Payne’s passing, he was overcome with emotion, and he “breaks down on camera,” Page Six reports.
“I’d spoken to his parents that morning when I heard the news, and I was just thinking, ‘God, I couldn’t cope with that. I genuinely couldn’t,’” Cowell said of the emotional scene, which was filmed in October 2024.
Despite his heartache over Payne’s death, Cowell was already deep into filming the docuseries and had auditioned over 1,000 teens. He realized he needed to make a decision. “Then I met with them, and I met with the parents, and we talked for a few hours, and I said, ‘Look, think about it. And then if you decide any of you don’t want to continue, I completely understand,” he recalled. “And if you do decide to come along, we are going to have a big support team around you.’ And they all decided they wanted to have that chance.”
Simon Cowell Discusses His Son
Cowell is a father to his son, Eric, whom he shares with long-term partner, Lauren Silverman. The couple has been together since 2013, and their son was born in 2014. The docu-series offers a glimpse into his personal life, too. It includes scenes with Silverman, who is notably a very private person, and highlights their relationship.
When working on the show, Cowell also thought about how his son could one day be one of those hopeful teens auditioning for a life-changing role in a band. “You start thinking, ‘What if Eric was one of those boys?’ Is it something that he should do?’ But when someone makes up their mind that they want to go into entertainment and they’re talented, you’ve got to encourage them,” Cowell said. “At the same time, you’ve got to look after them.”
