Simon Cowell | |
---|---|
Born | Simon Cowell 19 April 1952 Essex, England |
Education | City of London Freemen's School |
Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge (PhD) |
Occupation(s) | TV presenter, conservationist, author |
Years active | 1983–present |
Organization | Wildlife Aid Foundation |
Spouse |
Jillian Geraldine Cowell
(divorced) |
Children | 2 |
Simon Maxwell Cowell MBE (born 19 April 1952)[4][1][5] is a British conservationist, television presenter, and author best known for hosting the Animal Planet documentary series Wildlife SOS from 1996–2014.[6] He is the founder of Wildlife Aid Foundation, originally titled Wildlife Aid, which is a charitable organization dedicated to the "rescue, rehabilitation, and release of British wildlife".[7]
In his early life, Cowell suffered from stuttering, and enjoyed singing. He attended the City of London Freemen's boarding school,[8] and took part in multiple choirs and school musicals.[6]
Cowell earned a PhD in biological sciences at Jesus College, Cambridge, and worked a commodities trader through the 1980s. He has two daughters. He and his former wife Jill co-founded the Wildlife Aid Foundation animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in 1983,[2] several years after setting up a wildlife sanctuary on the grounds of his home.[1] The organisation's activities were the subject of the television series Wildlife SOS, and subsequently a Youtube channel series with entries being released to the present day.[9]
Cowell endured a self-described nervous breakdown in 1994,[6] after which he decided to dedicate "all his time" to the Wildlife Aid charity. As part of his efforts as a conservationist and animal-rights activist, he has campaigned for PETA.[6] Cowell has been described as a "forthright, witty character" who is "not averse" to profanity. Costar Ricky Gervais once described him as "David Attenborough with Tourette's". He was awarded a prestigious Order of the British Empire award in 2006 for his "services to wildlife".[6][4] As an author, Cowell released a memoir entitled My Wild Life: The Story of a Most Unlikely Animal Rescuer in 2016.[1]
He resides in Leatherhead, Surrey, and Wildlife Aid Foundation is run out of his home.[10]
In July 2022, it was announced through his foundation that in late June 2022 he was diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal form of lung cancer.[11] A donation campaign for his organisation entitled "Simon's Last Wish" was launched on 15 July.[10]