Simon Cowell expecting a baby with married New York socialite Lauren Silverman

• .Lauren, 36, is said to be '10 weeks along' in the pregnancy
• .Pair have been seeing each other 'for a year and viewed houses together in LA'
• .Lauren told friends a few weeks ago that she wanted to marry X Factor judge
• .Cowell made no reference to the claims during an interview on Chelsea Lately on Tuesday night

By SARAH BULL

Simon Cowell is expecting a baby with New York socialite Lauren Silverman.

A close friend of Cowell told MailOnline that Lauren, who is technically still married to real estate mogul Andrew Silverman, a close friend of Cowell's, had revealed that she wants to marry the star just a few weeks ago. 

The friend said: 'Lauren loves Simon, she says that she wants to marry him. And with the baby, she's going the right way about it! But I think this could be really good for Simon.'

Father to be: Simon Cowell is expecting a baby with married New York socialite Lauren Silverman, pictured here together in 2012

Cowell and ex fiancée Mezhgan Hussainy with Lauren (white hat) and her husband Andrew on the music mogul's yacht in St Barts in January

Another friend confirmed the baby news and said 'yes, all true'.

Lauren, 36, is said to be 'around 10 weeks along' in the pregnancy, according to Us Weekly magazine.

Cowell and Lauren have been seeing each for at least a year, according to friends. They were even seen viewing houses together in Los Angeles earlier this year. 

X Factor judge Cowell and Lauren have also frequently been seen on holiday together, with the pretty brunette a regular fixture during the mogul's holidays in St Barts forthe past three years.

In January, the pair were even seen lounging together on the deck of the yacht alongside Cowell's ex-fiancée Mezhgan Hussainy and Lauren's husband Andrew.

Keeping quiet: Cowell made no mention of impending fatherhood during an interview on Chelsea Lately on Tuesday night

Separated: Cowell is close friends with real estate mogul Andrew Silverman - Lauren's husband

Their close friend, fashion designer Rachel Roy, posted a picture of the couple cuddling up together while on holiday with them at New Year. While on board a luxury yacht, she thanked both her 'hosts' for inviting her on the trip.

However, Cowell and Lauren's situation is made more complicated by the fact while Lauren's relationship with Andrew is over, she is still technically married.

'God, no. I couldn't have children. If I had them here drawing on the walls I'd go nuts', Simon Cowell, 2009

The source told Usmagazine.com: 'Lauren and Andrew have been unhappy in their marriage for some time, and their divorce has been in the works for a while. As their marriage deteriorated, she and Simon became close.'

There is no suggestion Cowell caused the break-up or got close to Lauren while she was still with her husband.

Cowell made no reference to impending fatherhood when he opened up to Chelsea Handler during an interview on her talk show on Tuesday night, sticking to topics including One Direction and his recent health kick.

It remains to be seen just how the news that he is to be a father will go down with Cowell, who has never made a secret of the fact that he doesn't believe he is the right material to become a parent. 

In an interview in 2009 Cowell said: 'God, no. I couldn't have children. If I had them here drawing on the walls I'd go nuts. 

'With kids, you've got a routine you can't escape from. You've got to be up at a certain time. Got to listen. When all you want to do is sit in a corner thinking.'

Reports: Simon Cowell is reportedly expecting a baby with married New York socialite Lauren Silverman, pictured here together in 2012

Theatre date: In March, Cowell and Lauren were seen leaving the theatre after watching The Mousetrap

Good spirits: Lauren smiled widely and dressed to impress for the evening out

However, in a more recent interview in April this year, Cowell appeared to have somewhat changed his mind, saying: 'I haven’t ruled it out. If I knew I could be - how do I put this delicately - faithful, I would.

'I do like kids, I’m just not sure I’d be any good for the first six months. I don’t think I’d adopt because I’d rather have my own. I’d have to say I’d like a little girl.'

Cowell was most recently romantically linked to Carmen Electra, with whom he judged wannabe stars on The X Factor USA and was spotted with on several dates in 2012.

However, in February this year, Cowell confirmed he was single, saying: 'We spent time together and she is so much fun. But I'd like to find a girlfriend.'

Cowell's last relationship prior to that was with make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy, but the pair broke off their engagement last year.

Complicated: Despite no longer being in a relationship with husband Andrew, he and Lauren are technically still married

Friends first: In December, Lauren (far left) and Cowell were seen together at a charity fashion show with his exes Mezhgan Hussainy and Sinitta

He later described the engagement as his 'big mistake', adding: 'I’m attracted to crazy women. I encourage crazy behaviour and I make them crazy.

'I’m attracted to certain personalities who are difficult to control. So there are tantrums, tears and fights, which is all part of the drama. My life is really odd.

'Every girl wants to be number one and they’re very territorial. I like the fight, because otherwise I’d have a dull group of girlfriends.'

Short-lived: Cowell's most recent romance was with fellow X Factor USA judge Carmen Electra

Spot the difference: Cowell certainly has a thing for brunettes. Left with Mezhgan Hussainy and right with Jackie St Clair

And while Cowell has spoken in recent months about his desire to settle down, he then called relationships 'boring' in an interview last month.

He said: 'When no matter how big your house is, you are going to end up on the same sofa, in the same bed or in the same room as a person. It's a boring routine.

'Being on my own in the best thing in the world. It's like breathing in oxygen - I can really switch off then.'

SIMON COWELL: A RELATIONSHIP HISTORY

Paula Hamilton, 1976

Paula claims she lost her virginity to Cowell when she was 16, and they remained childhood sweethearts when she was growing up in Hertfordshire.

Jackie St Clair, 1970s

Cowell and Jackie dated on and off during the 1970s. Like Cowell and many of his exes, they have remained friends and are often seen out on the town together.

Louise Payne, 1995 - 1998

Simon is said to been engaged to former Page Three model Louise. The pair met in 1995 shortly after she split from Right Said Fred Drummer Fred Fairbrass.

Sinitta, 1985 to 2000 (on and off)

Sinitta and Simon engaged an on-off relationship for nearly twenty years before she had an affair with David Essex.

Alicia Douvall, 2001

Alicia and Simon dated for six months in 2001 .In an interview last year, Alicia claimed he had been an insatiable lover and they had once had sex eleven times in one night. 

Georgina Law, 2000 - 2001

Simon and lap dancer Georgina dated for a year after he met her during a night out at Spearmint Rhino gentleman's club.

Terri Seymour, 2002 - 2006

Terri and Simon dated for four years before their split in 2006. Following their break-up, Terri continued living in one of his Los Angeles homes for a further three years.

Jasmine Lennard, 2006

While Simon and Jasmine only had a short-lived six month affair, she has since called him the 'love of her life'. During her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012, she insisted she and Simon still care about each other 'very much'.

Dannii Minogue, 2007

Simon and Dannii's fling during their time together on the X Factor panel in 2007 was revealed in Tom Bower’s tell-all book last year. 

Mezhgan Hussainy, 2009 - 2011

Simon met make-up artist Mezhgan on the set of American Idol back in 2003. They began a relationship and got engaged in 2010. Their split was confirmed in February 2012 by a mutual friend Zeta Graff, who said Mezhgan had been 'too needy' for Cowell.

Carmen Electra, 2012 - 2013

Simon and his X Factor USA fellow judge Carmen Electra were first romantically linked in late 2012, when they were seen out on several dates together. They called things off in early 2013.

Lauren Silverman, 2013

On 31st July, 2013, it was revealed that Simon is expecting a baby with New York socialiate Lauren Silverman, who is still married to real estate mogul Andrew.