SIMON Cowell has revealed the real reason behind why he's a "soft touch" after changing his Britain's Got Talent person.
The 65-year-old says the birth of his 10-year-old son Eric changed how he acted towards talent on stage.
It led him to ditch the "nasty" comments he had become known for on Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor.
Simon told The Sun: "Ever since I've had a son you start seeing these kids and every time I think 'god that could be Eric' - if they're like, eight, nine, ten, whatever.
"So by that point definitely, that has really had an effect.
"Apart from that, when I watched some of those clips just then it really did remind me that it's those moments where you get surprised, and that's what I love about the show.
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"That moment where you can just feel everyone is involved and they like it, and it's going to change that person's life.
"You don't know what's going to happen, other than it's just going to be good."
His co-judge Amanda Holden said: "He did go soft for a bit but I feel like he's coming back now.
"He's up for it, he would never have let anyone throw things at him - you've changed so much, and I do think that's because you've got Eric who throws things at you and jumps on you and all those things."
Simon also opened up about a near-death experience on stage during the auditions for the new series.
It came during the act of a man smashing watermelons around him with a mallet while blindfolded as Simon lay down on stage.
The guy appeared to get nervous during the audition - and the crew were forced to intervene.
A new trailer shows Simon being picked up and carried out of harm's way.
Speaking at the press launch of the new BGT series, Simon said: "You know the feeling when you kind of think, somebody doesn't want you on the show anymore? It was that.
"It was the closest genuinely where I'm thinking they actually want to kill me.
"And I swear to God that's how I felt. Because this guy got really nervous and he'd slipped and he was smashing these watermelons."
