Simon Cowell had made his first UK appearance since it emerged he was to become a father for the first time, at the premiere of One Direction's film 'This Is Us', even making light of the scandal.
Simon Cowell with One Direction at the 'This Is Us' premiere
The 'X Factor' boss was a surprise guest on the red carpet, as he lent his support to Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Payne at the first screening of the lads' movie debut at London's Leicester Square.
And as he chatted to red carpet host Will Best, Simon made a cheeky reference to his impending fatherhood, after it was revealed his is expecting his first child with his friend's wife Lauren Silverman last month.
Simon said of the One Direction boys: "This is like a dream come true... I feel like a father."
Will was quick to joke back: "We won't go there!"
Simon Cowell on the red carpet
Simon had also dragged along ex-girlfriends Mezhgan Hussainy and Sinitta to the event, who have been at his side since news of the baby scandal broke.
One Direction Film Premiere - This Is Us
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(01 of44)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of One Direction arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(02 of44)
Simon Cowell arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(03 of44)
(L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(04 of44)
Louis Tomlinson arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(05 of44)
Harry Styles arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(06 of44)
Harry Styles of One Direction arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(07 of44)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of One Direction arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(08 of44)
Zayn Malik arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(09 of44)
Zayn Malik arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(10 of44)
Fans gather ahead of the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(11 of44)
Fans gather ahead of the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(12 of44)
Fans arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(13 of44)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of One Direction arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(14 of44)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne of One Direction arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(15 of44)
Harry Styles arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(16 of44)
(L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(17 of44)
Harry Styles arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(18 of44)
(L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(19 of44)
(L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(20 of44)
A general view of One Direction arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(21 of44)
(L-R) Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Liam Payne arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(22 of44)
Zayn Malik arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(23 of44)
Zayn Malik arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(24 of44)
Morgan Spurlock arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(25 of44)
Morgan Spurlock arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(26 of44)
A crying fan arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(27 of44)
A fan in a wedding dress arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(28 of44)
Morgan Spurlock arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(29 of44)
David Seaman and Frankie Poultney arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(30 of44)
David Seaman and Frankie Poultney arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(31 of44)
Tony Adams arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(32 of44)
David Seaman (L) Frankie Poultney (2nd l) and family arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(33 of44)
Simon Cowell arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(34 of44)
Simon Cowell arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(35 of44)
David Seaman and Frankie Poultney arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(36 of44)
A fan in a wedding dress arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(37 of44)
Simon Cowell arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(38 of44)
David Seaman and Frankie Poultney arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(39 of44)
Morgan Spurlock arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
One Direction: This Is Us World Premiere - London(40 of44)
Morgan Spurlock arriving for the World Premiere of One Direction: This Is Us, at the Empire Leicester Square, London. (credit:PA)
Harry Styles(41 of44)
Harry Styles arrives at the UK Premiere of 'One Direction: This Is Us 3D' - VIP Arrivals, on Tuesday August 20, 2013, in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP Images) (credit:AP)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne(42 of44)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne arrive at the UK Premiere of 'One Direction: This Is Us 3D' - VIP Arrivals, on Tuesday August 20, 2013, in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP Images) (credit:AP)
Harry Styles(43 of44)
Harry Styles arrives at the UK Premiere of 'One Direction: This Is Us 3D' - VIP Arrivals, on Tuesday August 20, 2013, in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP Images) (credit:AP)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne(44 of44)
Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne arrive at the UK Premiere of 'One Direction: This Is Us 3D' - VIP Arrivals, on Tuesday August 20, 2013, in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP Images) (credit:AP)
Over 70,000 fans turned out to catch a glimpse of One Direction at the premiere, where the lads caused hysteria.
They were joined on the red carpet by the likes of Dermot O'Leary, Little Mix, and James Corden.