Cowell under fire for smoking beside his pregnant lover

Now he is to be a father, you might think Simon Cowell would want to start looking after himself – and his pregnant girlfriend – a little better.

But it seems even the responsibilities of impending parenthood can’t stop the TV mogul from lighting up a cigarette.

The 54-year-old has been spotted smoking in the company of Lauren Silverman in the past weeks, leading to fears his habit could harm his unborn baby.

Pictures of him puffing away by her side even prompted health charity Action on Smoking and Health to warn all pregnant women to avoid passive smoke because of the increased risks of congenital abnormalities.

After studying images of the pair, the charity’s research manager Amanda Sandford said: ‘Tobacco smoke is toxic and can harm the unborn child so it’s really important that pregnant women avoid breathing in tobacco smoke, whether through active or passive smoking.

Studies show that babies born to women who were exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy are at greater risk of having a low birth weight, congenital abnormalities and are also at increased risk of dying shortly after birth.’

Cowell is a self-confessed nicotine addict, and once admitted he started smoking at the age of eight.