Simon Cowell’s bid for a quiet life in the country has been reportedly shattered by … moles.
The Britain’s Got Talent star, 64, was likely hoping for friendly neighbours after selling his £45,000,000 mansion in Holland Park but these pesky critters are said to be ‘taking over.’
The extensive back garden of Simon’s new rural pad – thought to be worth £8million – has been ruined and now resembles ‘swiss cheese’, according to an insider.
The property, which was previously four homes before being turned into a mansion after Simon snapped it up in 2021, is ‘riddled with molehills’ although was ‘fine’ when the music mogul moved in.
‘The moles started off on the sunny hillside quite a distance from the house,’ a source explained to The Sun.
‘But they seem to be getting braver and quite a few have popped up by the living room window, pool, and patio.
‘It’s like they’re taking over.’
Simon moved to Oxfordshire with his fiancee Lauren Silverman, 46, and their son Eric, 10, after reportedly becoming disenfranchised with life in the city.
He became rattled after a string of alarming events at the imposing cream-painted house that he owned for 16 years – which included home invasions by two intruders, one of whom stole £1m in jewellery.
Last year, it was also alleged that a criminal gang had sold the exact lock to the music mogul’s front door after spending £500,000 on security measures.
It was claimed a security expert had later offered to see a decode that could unlock the steel front door in ‘seconds’.
Speaking about the foiled attempt, Simon previously told The Sun: ‘I was in total shock.
‘The fact that it is possible for a person to obtain the software code to sell to someone — so they could rob the house my family live in — is disgusting. To even consider doing this is dangerous and reckless.’
Moles aside, his new life in the country has been running much smoother with Eric enjoying being close to nature.
Speaking about the move, Simon previously told Access Hollywood: ‘He’s like me. He likes being outside, you know. He’s kind of doing all the things I did as a kid where he’s playing football outside, he’s climbing trees, he’s running. And that’s what we have … We’re in the countryside so he gets to do tonnes of things outside so I’m happy and he loves it there.’
Enjoying a property portfolio featuring homes around the world – including a mansion in LA – the star feels most at ease being based in the UK, after spending much of the pandemic in Malibu.
Having started as a record company executive, he found fame and notoriety as a judge on the 2001 ITV show Pop Idol.
Simon went on to found The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent franchises, which were globally successful and produced some of the industry’s brightest stars.
Metro.co.uk has contacted Simon’s rep for comment.
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