Simon Cowell's new venture to find the next big boyband has hit a dramatic snag, with his fiancée Lauren Silverman seen storming off set in a newly released trailer.
The music mogul, 66, is fronting a new talent search series for Netflix where he attempts to assemble a new global pop group, more than a decade after his phenomenal success creating One Direction on The X Factor.
Tension Behind the Scenes
The preview for the six-part series, titled The Next Act, reveals significant friction between Cowell and his partner. In one clip from the show, the couple are in the back of a car when Silverman, 48, remarks, "You're very tense!" to which Cowell sharply retorts, "I am tense!"
The pressure seems immense. Cowell is heard in a voiceover acknowledging the high stakes, stating, "There is a huge risk here. If this goes wrong, it will be 'Simon Cowell has lost it...'" He is also seen storming through the set, lamenting, "This is a disaster!"
The Dramatic Exit
Lauren Silverman, who has been engaged to Cowell since 2021, is typically portrayed as his steadfast supporter. Speaking to the camera, she insists, "I never complain, I'm just there for you because that's what you do when you love somebody."
However, the tension culminates in a dramatic scene where Silverman is filmed walking off the set. In a clear sign of her frustration, she is heard asking a producer, "Can I be unmiked?!" a request to have her microphone removed.
A Nostalgic Return with High Stakes
The series sees Cowell return to his roots in artist development. Sixteen aspiring pop stars are flown to Miami for an intensive week with Simon and his team, though he warns them their chances of success are slim.
He is joined by his old Pop Idol co-judge, Pete Waterman. The fellow record producer, who famously worked with Kylie Minogue, said of reuniting with Cowell, "It’s great fun to be doing something together again. We are best mates. I agreed to do it straightaway."
The Next Act is scheduled for release on Netflix on December 10, promising viewers an inside look at the high-pressure mission to create a new music phenomenon.
