Simon Cowell believes in destiny

Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Simon said when asked what he had learned from his "biggest miss": "I do believe in destiny. I always use Eric as an example, which is there were certain things in my life which were bad.

"However, that's your destiny and Eric was conceived on a certain day at a certain time, and if things have gone differently, then I don't believe he would be here.

"So that therefore you can't really complain too much about your regrets."

But the Next Act star noted he had experienced the dark side of the entertainment industry, but refused to elaborate other than to say he had had his trust broken.

He said: "I've had experiences now where people who you trusted just completely let you down and, and you're just that what? I can't go into it.

"I can be quite naive where I really, really, really put my trust in people. And boy do they let let you down."

Simon told how "everything" changed for him when he found out he was going to become a dad.

He said: "My family is everything to me genuinely.

"I mean, when I first found out, I'm like, Oh my God, I wasn't expecting that.

"And then from the minute I saw his scan, I just fell in love. It was like a game changer. Everything in my life changed."

Elsewhere during the podcast, the talent show star hit out at criticism from former X Factor contestants and insisted they have "got it in" for him and knew what they were signing up for.

He said: "It's the music business so my job is to make money for you and me and that was the deal. If I saw an opportunity, you jump on it.

"The vast majority of people have made a lot of money and got what they wanted which was fame, so certain people, they've just got it in for me.

"There's nothing I can do about it, they signed up to what they knew the show was about, and if you don't like that, then I suggest you become an accountant or a gardener or something where no one knows who you are and you won't have that problem."