What Simon Cowell's up to

NEW YORK - There are a few reasons reality TV mogul Simon Cowell is not looking too cut up about the end of The X Factor US - and his absence from US television.

The 54-year-old Brit has been busy preparing for first-time fatherhood with girlfriend Lauren Silverman, and already has a couple of potential TV hits up his sleeve.

New baby

On Valentine's Day, Cowell and Silverman welcomed their first child, a boy the couple decided to name Eric, after Cowell's father.

The crabby reality show judge seems really dedicated to his role as a new dad - he left the Britain's Got Talent auditions midway to fly to New York and be by Silverman's side as she gave birth.

American Idol judge Randy Jackson told the press last week about the advice he had dished out: "(I told him) 'Dude, let it wash over you.' I think he's going to be a good dad."

New shows

The One Direction gravy train isn't stopping any time soon. Cowell, who put the world's biggest boy band together on The X Factor in 2010, is planning a reality show about the UK quintet to coincide with their upcoming fourth album.

He has also got a quiz show in the works called Keep It In The Family, and is hoping to launch it later this year.

Meanwhile, his life is the subject of a musical, I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical, which will debut in London's West End next month.