The many, many, many faces of Simon Cowell: After the straight-talking Britain’s Got Talent judge left Saturday Night Takeaway fans bemused with his radically different features, MailOnline looks back at his ever-varying visage
Not much has changed on Britain’s Got Talent over the years, a new series is currently being filmed; the usual mix of hopeful contestants, candid judges and tear-jerking backstories, combined with the heady promise of potential fame and fortune, has earned these flawless formats millions of viewers – and a near-permanent air of predictability.
If only the same could be said of their creator.
An appearance on the opening episode of the very last series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway on Saturday February 24 led to some quizzical comments from viewers, with fans of the show left addressing the elephant that Simon Cowell accidentally let into the room – namely his radical different and seemingly ever-changing characteristics.
Simon Cowell appeared on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway this weekend to talk about a prank he was subjected to, but viewers found it difficult to concentrate on what he was saying and became more concerned about his appearance
Simon Cowell in an early publicity photo from 2002 (L) and seen on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway in February 2024 (R)
The music mogul, now 64, was fooled by presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly when they had him stopped by fake police as he sat on his bike in Malibu, before being locked in a metal box in a staged accident while filming America’s Got Talent auditions.
Simon appeared in the studio to talk about the joke, but viewers found it difficult to concentrate on what he was saying and were more concerned about his appearance.
TV star Simon has previously denied having a facelift but admits he regrets his extensive use of Botox.
Several viewers took to X and commented on his appearance, with one writing: ‘Is that definitely Simon Cowell? He looks like a melting Ken Doll?’
Fellow guest Stephen Merchant also couldn’t resist commenting on Simon’s performance on the show.
Commenting on the clip, Stephen, 49, joked: ‘I didn’t like it… I loved it. that was my Simon impression. It wasn’t very convincing because my face was moving.’
Has he really changed? Or is it just our imagination?
Fear not, MailOnline has the answer. Join us as we take a careful chronological look back at the many, many faces of Simon Cowell.
1985: Cowell’s dashing features turned heads during a night out with girlfriend Sinitta at London’s Legends nightclub
1987: The then little-known record producer looked youthful and fresh in this TV appearance from the late 1980s
1990: Cowell looks handsome as he poses with his then-girlfriend Sinitta, a constant in his life, at an event in London
1999: Cowell, aged 40, with Ray Hedges and Kate Thornton while judging the This Morning Boy Band Competition
1994-2007: Cowell modeled round glasses at the 1994 BRIT Awards (L), while teeth appeared slightly whiter in 2007 Britain’s Got Talent publicity photos (R)
2001: Cowell looks suave in Pop Idol, a prototype for The X Factor and the show that made him a household name
2001–2003: The mogul developed a reputation for making caustic comments to unhappy guests on Pop Idol after its launch (left, at the 2001 Pop Idol panel and right, attending the Love Actually movie premiere in 2003)
Don’t mind me: the pose is similar, but the face looks marginally different, as Cowell poses for an X Factor publicity photo in 2005 (L) and at an American Idol party in 2006 (R)
2012: Cowell again turns heads while attending Britain’s Got Talent auditions in London’s Hammersmith
2014-2019: Cowell’s shiny teeth appear to have straightened and whitened over the years (L-R at The X Factor in 2014 and enjoying a night out in 2019)
2015: Professional smoker Cowell prepares to light a cigarette as he leaves a private party in London
2015: The British star stepped out with unusual facial hair just two months later at the launch of The X Factor in London
2021-2022: Cowell appears to be losing weight over the past twelve months as the lines that previously defined his features have been smoothed out (L-R on America’s Got Talent Extreme and more recently in a social media post from Britain’s Got Talent)
2022: The music mogul raised eyebrows during his appearance at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards in November, where he was joined by glamorous partner Lauren Silverman
2022: An otherwise straight forward performance at the Royal Variety pre-recorded performance on December 2 this year raised more unwanted questions than answers
2022: More questioning eyebrows were raised just days later when Cowell’s face was curiously obscured by shadow as he praised eight-year-old son Eric during a remote appearance on ITV chat show Loose Women