There's no doubt that Simon Cowell is a proud dad. Eric, six, was born in 2014 and nowadays makes special guest appearances alongside his famous dad on Britain's Got Talent and X Factor. However, when the news broke that global celebrity Simon Cowell was set to become a father for the first time back in 2013, it came as an unexpected surprise to the entertainment world, his fans and even some of his closest friends.
MORE: Simon Cowell's future on Britain's Got Talent finals revealed
WATCH: Simon Cowell plays with adorable son Eric
Simon's confidante and former partner, Sinitta, seemed to be one of the first people to hear and had a few words to say on the matter. Simon's colleagues Amanda Holden and David Walliams also publically reacted to the news. Ahead of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday, let's take a trip down memory lane…
MORE: Simon Cowell surprises fans with quick recovery following bike accident
Sinitta was one of the first to react to Simon's baby news
At the time, Sinitta, who's been a close friend of the Syco boss for a number of years, cryptically tweeted a couple of days before the news was announced. She wrote: "Something has just happened... half miracle, half nightmare! #WakeMeUpIWantToGetOff!!" Fellow BGT judge David had a similarly witty response to the news. "For the record @SimonCowell and I tried to have a baby together for many years. But I just couldn't get pregnant," he joked, receiving more than 1,500 retweets.
© Photo: InstagramSimon Cowell welcomed son Eric in 2014
Other judge, and also close friend of Simon, Amanda shared her excitement and joy at the prospect of all four of the Britain's Got Talent judges being parents to young children. While on holiday, the mum-of-two wrote: "I am still here! Just enjoying a family break!! So! All Four Judges with potentially 4 kids under 2 for BGT 2014!!" Amanda, 42, welcomed her second daughter, Hollie Rose, at the beginning of 2012.
Back in 2013, Carmen Electra, who also worked on Britain's Got Talent, told VH1 that she was "so happy" for the father-to-be. "I'm so happy for him!" she said, adding: "What I witnessed working with him on Britain's Got Talent and coming to see him during X Factor is that the people he truly believes in, he stands up for them and supports them. So I obviously think that his child will be very well taken care of and very, very loved."
MORE: Alesha Dixon reveals daughter's epic four-tiered first birthday cake
© Photo: InstagramSimon's BGT co-stars reacted to his exciting news at the time
More recently, Simon has been at home recovering after breaking his back in a bike accident. Simon took to Twitter shortly after his accident to reassure his fans that he was okay. He wrote: "Some good advice… if you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time. I have broken part of my back. Thank you to everyone for your kind messages."
The star also tweeted his America's Got Talent co-stars, telling them that he missed them as he watched the show from home. Kelly Clarkson and Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson have since filled in for the judge.
Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.
