Cowell's no quitter - is he?
Friday, August 17, 2007 
I almost fell off my stool in Costa Coffee this afternoon when I saw this headline in today's Daily Mirror: 'Cowell: I'm quitting'.
Simon Cowell to quit smoking? Surely not?! Needless to say, I had jumped to conclusions. According to the paper the TV mogul will quit American Idol in three years when his contract is up, and he may quit the X-Factor at the same time. As for smoking:
One vice Simon hasn't managed to give up is his smoking habit - he gets through 10 to 15 Kool menthol cigarettes a day. He's adamant he will keep lighting up despite the smoking ban, which has been a problem at the X Factor auditions. "I'm still smoking and I'm not getting on well with the ban," he says.
"I enjoy smoking and I feel discriminated against. It's humiliating being made to stand in the street - it reminds me of school and smoking behind the bike shed. I had a bit of trouble during the auditions when I forgot. I lit up and it was like I pulled out a hand grenade. Someone practically came out with a fire extinguisher."
Thank goodness for that. Full article HERE.
People
Reader Comments (6)
"Hand grenade"
Yes, that about sums it up. It's completely crazy. Well said Mr. Cowell.
I know how Simon feels. I have always detested druggies, but I now get the feeling that I'm a druggy
At least Simon is getting a taste of what it is like to be an ordinary person in the UK these days!
I do appreciate how he feels though and I have not been out socially since the ban came into force in England as I do not feel safe standing out on any street to indulge in a legal and to some, me included, necessary (ask my doctors!) pleasure. I do not drink much and rarely did go out to pubs or clubs, but did enjoy eating out once a week and at weekends having a coffee and toast in a cafe. Now I spend far less time out shopping - good thing is it is saving me money - and no time out at all in restaurants or cafe's. Who is really losing out here?
Psychologically however, in the long term this will not do me or many other people any good in health terms, but will result in a greater burden being put on the NHS and most especially the poor relation of the NHS, the Mental Health Service, as this is the service that will be expected to deal with people who become reclusive.
Lyn
What's happened to the Taking Liberties blog? No updates in ages. Has it died?
Re : smoking in the street - there is currently a thread on the travelsite"Tripadvisor" on their London forum, have posted there myself, but it could do with some of the very well reasoned posts that we often see on here
I despise Simon Cowell and all his 'Opportunity Knocks' - apeing shows. But the lad himself is one diamond geezer.
Still, if old Si has to escape onto the street to light up at least that'll give us more opportunities to tell him what a good lad he is. And nick his lighter when he offers us a light ha, ha!!