Simon Cowell's fiancée, Lauren Silverman, has struck up a close friendship with Britain's Got Talent star, Bruno Tonioli, who joined Simon on the judging panel of the ITV talent show two years ago
Simon Cowell's fiancée Lauren Silverman has given a rare interview about their son Eric, revealing that Britain's Got Talent judge Bruno Tonioli is 'like a godfather' to the 11-year-old. The former Strictly Come Dancing star joined Simon on the judging panel of the ITV talent show two years and has since struck up a close friendship with his family.
Opening about the friendship while enjoying the blooms at the Chelsea Flower Show last week, Lauren praised Bruno for accompanying her to the annual event in SW3, joking: "Simon never goes anywhere". She also revealed how much Eric, who is Simon's only child, loves being around the Italian star as she revealed the 11-year-old calls him "Uncle Bruno".
When asked if Bruno was a like godfather to Eric, she told Closer magazine: "Yes definitely. He's Uncle Bruno to us. Eric loves him."
Being the only child of a multi-millionaire music mogul, fans would be forgiven for thinking Eric may be a tad spoilt. However, Bruno insisted this was not the case, saying: "He is not spoiled at all, actually. He is a very, very, very well brought up kid."
Bruno is often invited to visit Simon and his fiancée at their lavish summer retreat in the Cotswolds, for a 'spot of yoga or clay pigeon shooting'. Victoria and David Beckham also have a palatial pile in the area. However, when asked if they spend much time with the Beckhams, Lauren said: "They're busy people. We kind of keep ourselves to ourselves."
Bruno added: "It's good to keep what's going on in your private life very separate. Nobody knows what's going on and I like it that way. We don’t even talk about work we just chill."
Lauren says that her son Eric and Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon’s children have ‘grown up together’ behind the scenes on BGT, saying there's a nice "family vibe". Shedding light on the award-winning show, she said: “All of the kids they’ve grown up together. It’s a nice family vibe with us all there. It’s lovely."
Lauren and Simon welcomed their Eric on Valentine's Day in 2014, with the SyCo star last year revealing how much he had changed his life.
Speaking to OK! magazine following the Together For Short Lives annual gala, Simon revealed he had toured a potential new school for his son, saying: "It was great fun, but it reminded me of my own school days. I would get that Sunday night feeling at 7pm – what excuse could I come up with for the following day to avoid it? I'd try every trick in the book. Fortunately, Eric's not like that; we're in a good place with him."
Hinting that he may have a music career ahead of him, he continued: "He has started taking [drum] lessons and we have bought him a kit. He has great timing and reads music and it's brilliant watching him play in his bedroom. He looks like a little rock star. Although thank God it's not the violin! That would have been a no-no."
Eric, meanwhile, who often visits the set of BGT, is said to have "a tip" regarding the winner of the much-loved talent show, which culminates in a star-studded finale on Saturday.
When asked if he had an idea who she be crowned the winner, proud mum, Lauren, teased: "I'm sure he does!"
* Britain's Got Talent finale is on Saturday May 31
