Music mogul Simon Cowell says his life "changed" when his partner Lauren Silverman gave birth to their son Eric 17 months ago.

"This was not something I planned. But I remember going to the first scan with Lauren. I called him Tad because he looked like a tadpole. Something just kicked in. I felt unbelievably protective of both of them.

"I just absolutely wanted him. I just hadn't known that before," Cowell told the Event magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I adore my son. We make each other laugh. We play with the dogs. I've taught him to share, to say please and thank you. Whatever he has he offers it to me," he added.

The 56-year-old opened up about the recent death of his mother Julie, saying he refused to accept she was dying.

"I wouldn't listen. I kept saying right to the end that there was hope. And I wasn't prepared for it. You know it all happened in my 50s. I have a son and then I lose my mother. It changes you. I'm still going through it," he said.