Simon Cowell is a man rarely lost for words. But as the host of the recent Together For Short Lives Ball, he struggled to speak when faced with a mother's heartbreaking account of losing her beloved son.
The moving moment came during the OK!-sponsored event for the charity, which provides vital support for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
The glamorous evening, held at London's Grosvenor House hotel, raised more than £300,000 with help from a host of celebrities including Christine McGuinness, Kelly Hoppen, Claire Sweeney and Vanessa Feltz, who all turned out to support the cause.
But it was the testimony of one mum that really hit home for the Britain's Got Talent supremo, who has been a patron of Together For Short Lives for the last 15 years.
"It was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to listen to in my life," admits Simon when OK! catches up with him the day after the ball, which was MC'd by Joel Dommett.
"I don't know how she got through it. Then, I had to get up and say a few words, and I completely lost it. I just couldn't speak. I was thinking, 'I just could not cope if anything happened to my son Eric. I love him so, so much."
"Although what we heard was tragic, it was a reminder why we were all there," he adds.
The story, relayed by Manraj Kaur Sanghera, was particularly poignant for Simon as she revealed her son Arjun died on Valentine’s Day in 2020 – the same day of the year that Eric, now 10, was born.
It’s clear that Eric, who he shares with fiancée Lauren Silverman, is the centre of his world. The day we chat, he has been touring a potential new school for him.
Denne historien er fra March 18, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 18, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE PITFALLS OF AT-HOME REMEDIES
Some online health advice could be putting our wellbeing at risk
GREEK RETREATS
Relax and unwind at some of the Greek islands' best wellness destinations, offering sun, sea - and spas
Food from home
Romy Gill takes us on a journey through the ancestral kitchens of the Bengal and Punjab regions by sharing 70 of her beloved family recipes
DANCING QUEEN: 'You'd have to shovel me out of my Strictly chair'
Shirley Ballas loves her role as head judge on the hit BBC dance show and despite struggling with back pain, she won't be putting her feet up any time soon, she tells OK! in an exclusive interview
FAMILY TIME: 'I feel content and in a good place - I was so different before I became a mum'
Reality TV star Ferne McCann on motherhood, marriage and being inspired by her children
THE MATCHMAKER: 'I would pay to go on My Mum, Your Dad if I wasn't in a relationship'
As the hit ITV dating series where single parents get a second chance of finding love returns, host Davina McCall reveals why the show is such a success
REEL DRAMA: BRAD STEALS THE SHOW AT MAJOR MOVIE EVENT
A host of screen stars graced the red carpet for the 81st Venice International Film Festival
FAMILY MATTERS: 'PETE AND I GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES, BUT WE LAUGH EVERY DAY'
Presenter Abbey Clancy tells us her secret to a happy marriage and why she loves the chaos of family life
SUMMER OF LOVE: 'We just match each other perfectly'
Olympic swimmer Matthew Richards marries fiancée Emily Large in a fairytale ceremony, making it a summer that they'll never forget
LIFE, LOVE AND DUTY: QUEEN CAMILLA'S JOURNEY INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Following another busy week of duties, it's clear Queen Camilla has taken to her role in the monarchy “like a duck to water\" says former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond