Simon Cowell’s new Netflix documentary The Next Act doesn’t just follow his hunt for Britain’s next boyband—it also reveals a surprisingly personal side of the famously disciplined star.
The four-part series, premiering today, tracks Cowell through live auditions while offering an intimate look at his life with longtime partner Lauren Silverman, the mother of their 10-year-old son, Eric. But one revealing moment has everyone talking—and it has nothing to do with talent shows.
During a quiet lunch scene, Cowell announces his meal: half a crumpet. He butters it carefully and explains, “I have to eat half of this now and the other half for dinner.” Sitting beside him, Lauren looks at her salad and sighs, “I’m so sorry. I’m so sad for you.”
The exchange highlights Cowell’s ultra-restrictive diet and self-imposed food rules. Lauren later admits to producers that Simon’s routines—like hiding kitchen rolls to keep countertops clear—sometimes drive her “a little nuts.”
Cowell has faced speculation about his appearance for years, with fans debating whether the Britain’s Got Talent judge has had major cosmetic work or weight-loss help. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he denied getting a facelift but acknowledged Botox and laser treatments. “I’ve heard people say I’ve had a facelift—I haven’t. I’ve had Botox, lasers, and this and that,” he said. “Sometimes I look at myself and think, ‘Oh God, I look terrible.’ Other times I think I look okay. What matters to me is authenticity.”
Addressing rumors he used the diabetes drug Mounjaro for weight loss, Cowell joked, “Whoever made it hit the jackpot.” He said his transformation began after his 2020 e-bike accident, which left him with a broken back. “Breaking my back was, oddly enough, a good thing,” he said. “I hadn’t realized how unfit I was. Everything was spiraling downward before that. The recovery process—the exercise and diet changes—got me to where I am now.”
While Lauren worries that Simon’s rigid habits may have gone too far, Cowell seems perfectly content splitting his meals in half—living proof that old habits die hard, even for a mogul who built his empire on discipline.
