British TV mogul Simon Cowell says he's looking forward to being a father, his first public confirmation that he will be having a child with married New York socialite Lauren Silverman.
Cowell, who had previously dodged questions about the affair, told the BBC that "things are changing in my life right now, for the better".
He added: "I'm proud to be a dad."
The 53-year-old talent show curmudgeon said Silverman is "a very special girl" and that while he hadn't thought of fatherhood before, "now I know I feel good about it".
Cowell was speaking at the world premiere of the film One Direction: This Is Us in London.