Simon Cowell may be one of the most recognisable faces in entertainment, but even global music moguls get a little lost sometimes.
Over the weekend, the Britain’s Got Talent judge was seen navigating London’s sun-drenched streets on his £8,000 electric bike—only to end up slightly off course.
Despite the detour, 65-year-old Simon seemed to be in great spirits.
Dressed in a black puffer jacket, a pair of shorts, and his signature sunglasses, he smiled widely as he paused outside a local pub to chat with a surprised fan who spotted him mid-cycle.
Fans Can’t Believe Their Eyes
A short video later made its way to TikTok, showing fans in a car pulling over in disbelief after recognising the star.
One even asked if he was nervous about riding through heavy traffic.
True to form, Simon responded with a cool, dry quip:
“I got lost, but it’s quicker,” he joked, before assuring them he’d be careful as he pedaled off.
That confidence might come as a surprise to those who know what he’s been through.
Just a few years ago, Simon’s relationship with e-bikes nearly changed his life forever.
The Crash That Changed Everything
Back in 2020, Simon suffered a terrifying accident while testing out a similar electric bike at his Malibu home.
The powerful throttle caused the bike to rear up into a massive wheelie, throwing him 7 to 8 feet into the air before he landed hard on his back.
He immediately sensed something was wrong.
“The second I landed, I thought, ‘St, I know I’ve broken my back,’”** he recalled.
Despite being able to move his hands and feet—a huge relief—he still faced an uphill battle.
What followed was extensive surgery, including the insertion of a metal rod to stabilise his spine. For a time, doctors weren’t sure he’d ever walk again.
Facing the Possibility of Paralysis
Simon opened up about the ordeal on Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast, sharing the sobering conversation he had with his surgeon.
“He looked at my X-ray and said, ‘I’m not sure I can fix this.’”
The operation could take 11 hours, and there was a real risk it might not work.
The gravity of the situation was clear. Simon said his thoughts turned immediately to his loved ones.
“In that moment, you realise the only thing that really matters is your health,” he said. “And you stop doing stupid things.”
A Major Lifestyle Overhaul
The accident proved to be a massive wake-up call.
It forced Simon to take a hard look at his lifestyle—and make some serious changes.
Physiotherapy was brutal at first. Even walking was a challenge.
But eventually, with effort and discipline, he began to feel stronger than ever.
“I was in a really bad place,” he admitted. “I thought I was fit, but I wasn’t.”
Since then, Simon has transformed himself. He lost three stone (around 40 pounds), quit chain smoking—at one point he was on 80 cigarettes a day—and cut back on work hours to find a better balance.
A New Outlook on Work, Health, and Family
In the years following the crash, Simon also re-evaluated his priorities.
He became more intentional about spending time with his partner, Lauren Silverman, and their 11-year-old son Eric.
He scaled back his work commitments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and made a rule not to work past 6pm or on his days off.
By 2023, he told The Sun, “I was so close to living the rest of my life in a wheelchair.
It gives you a completely different outlook.
In a good way.” Though the crash was painful and frightening, it ultimately pushed him to take better care of himself.
A Positive Turn After a Scary Fall
It’s rare to see someone turn a devastating injury into something positive, but that’s exactly what Simon Cowell has done.
With a full recovery behind him and a fresh perspective on life, he’s now riding into this next chapter—literally—with a smile.
So if you ever spot Simon lost in London traffic again, just know he’s not worried.
He’s already survived something much scarier—and come out of it stronger than ever.