SIMON Cowell has revealed he wants his son Eric to follow in his footsteps and go into showbusiness.
The TV and music mogul, 61, is keen for the seven-year-old to replace him in the industry, but his new ITV show Walk The Line has come a little too soon.
Simon told the Mirror: “Eric is a little me.
“I do say when he’s playing up a bit, I say to him, ‘Remember, daddy has already done all this’. I’m encouraging him to go into showbusiness.”
Last week we revealed Simon is stepping back from TV to spend more time with his family.
He is scaling back his on-screen presence after two decades as one of the biggest faces on British and American television.
Cowell who has been an ever-present lead judge on X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent for 17 years, will be replaced by Gary Barlow for Walk The Line.
The 62-year-old star will be heavily involved off-air as executive producer rather than appear on screen as originally planned.
Fifteen months on from having critical back surgery following a horror accident on an electric bike last year, the media mogul now wants to devote more time to partner Lauren and son Eric.
It brings to end an astonishing era of dominance of our telly screens – but Cowell is still determined to work on TV projects in the future, and is expected back on the next series of Britain’s Got Talent.
Simon said: “This is a situation where I have decided it is right for me to focus on my role as the Creator and Producer as we build up to the hugely exciting launch.
“Gary’s musical pedigree is second to none – and we have known each other a long time now – so I am delighted he is picking up the baton for me for the first series of Walk The Line. I know he will do a fantastic job.”
The former Take That frontman previously worked with Simon on the UK version of the X Factor.
The popular tycoon’s decision to stand down comes following a terrifying E bike accident in which he broke his back – and was almost paralysed for life.
Simon, who has overhauled his once “showbiz” lifestyle since the birth of his beloved son Eric, was treated by round the clock carers as he battled to walk again.
Since then he has kept a largely low profile.
His decision to work off-camera comes after he stepped back from duties Stateside last year.
The star was replaced on America’s Got Talent following his accident, as he recuperated at home in Los Angeles.
