'Drinking alcohol puts me in a calm place' says new father Simon Cowell
MUSIC mogul Simon Cowell has admitted that his best ideas come to him whilst he is sipping on an alcoholic beverage and smoking a cigarette.
The 54-year-old star, who is set to return to the UK X Factor panel this year, said that drinking alcohol puts him in a "calm place" and helps him with his creativity.
Speaking during an interview with the Radio Times to promote X Factor musical 'I Can't Sing!' which is written by comedian Harry Hill, Cowell also revealed that there's no way he could give up smoking.
"Harry trained as a doctor, he doesn't like my theory that although I smoke and drink I take supplements, so I'll be all right," he told the magazine.
"If I tried to cut out cigarettes completely, I would have a real problem: too boring. It's the same with drinking. I'm pretty good at cutting back when I need to."
He added: "I have this expression, 'You never eat Indian food for breakfast'. I always think there is a time in your day when you can be creative.
"For me, at one or two in the morning, couple of vodka and limes, couple of cigarettes, I'm in a calm place: I can think. I always say, 'One good idea a year can pay for your next ten years.' And that's all you need to do."
Last month, the British star became a father for the first time when his son Eric was born on Valentine's Day, and he immediately decided to take him om holiday to Miami with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman - where he's been pictured with his top off quite a lot.
Admitting that he feels he is in good shape, Simon told the magazine: "Yeah, not too shabby, eh?"
Simon has been very supportive of the upcoming musical, which has been postponed for the second time in a week due to technical problems.
However, he joked that it would have to last longer than the Spice Girls stage show in order to be considered a success.
Viva Forever! ran for seven months and was branded a flop when it was forced to end early, and when asked what would count as a success, Simon replied: "Seven months and a day," before adding: "I'm not au fait with the numbers. From day one there was a cloud over that musical. The critics had a field day."
He added: "It's bloody risky, but so is making the TV show. Every new season you go in with the highest hopes, and sometimes you get a bum year.
"You wait for those numbers to come in, oh my God it's stressful, and it's a delicious thrill."
The full interview with Simon can be seen in the new edition of Radio Times which is out now.