Simon Cowell (conservationist)

Simon Maxwell Cowell MBE (born 19 April 1952)[4][1][5] is a British conservationist, television presenter, and author best known for hosting the Animal Planet documentary series Wildlife SOS from 1996–2014.[6] He is the founder of Wildlife Aid Foundation, originally titled Wildlife Aid, which is a charitable organization dedicated to the "rescue, rehabilitation, and release of British wildlife".[7]

This article is about the conservationist and author. For the music executive and television presenter, see Simon Cowell.

Simon Cowell

MBE
Born
Simon Cowell

(1952-04-19) 19 April 1952
Essex, England
EducationCity of London Freemen's School
Alma materJesus College, Cambridge (PhD)
Occupation(s)TV presenter, conservationist, author
Years active1983–present
OrganizationWildlife Aid Foundation
Spouse
Jillian Geraldine Cowell
​
​
(divorced)​
[1][2][3]
Children2

Biography

In his early life, Cowell suffered from stuttering, and enjoyed singing. He attended the City of London Freemen's boarding school,[8] and took part in multiple choirs and school musicals.[6]

Cowell earned a PhD in biological sciences at Jesus College, Cambridge, and worked a commodities trader through the 1980s. He has two daughters. He and his former wife Jill co-founded the Wildlife Aid Foundation animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in 1983,[2] several years after setting up a wildlife sanctuary on the grounds of his home.[1] The organisation's activities were the subject of the television series Wildlife SOS, and subsequently a Youtube channel series with entries being released to the present day.[9]

Cowell endured a self-described nervous breakdown in 1994,[6] after which he decided to dedicate "all his time" to the Wildlife Aid charity. As part of his efforts as a conservationist and animal-rights activist, he has campaigned for PETA.[6] Cowell has been described as a "forthright, witty character" who is "not averse" to profanity. Costar Ricky Gervais once described him as "David Attenborough with Tourette's". He was awarded a prestigious Order of the British Empire award in 2006 for his "services to wildlife".[6][4] As an author, Cowell released a memoir entitled My Wild Life: The Story of a Most Unlikely Animal Rescuer in 2016.[1]

He resides in Leatherhead, Surrey, and Wildlife Aid Foundation is run out of his home.[10]

Health

In July 2022, it was announced through his foundation that in late June 2022 he was diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal form of lung cancer.[11] A donation campaign for his organisation entitled "Simon's Last Wish" was launched on 15 July.[10]

References
  1. "Wildlife crusader Simon Cowell: 'When I collapsed from executive burn-out I realised that I really wanted to work with injured animals'". Belfast Telegraph. 25 August 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022.
  2. de Muth, Susan (22 December 1993). "On the Wild Side: Jill Cowell". Independent. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  3. "Wild Productions Limited". Companies London. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  4. "Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood" (PDF). news.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 11 June 2005.
  5. @wildlifeaid (19 April 2016). "Happy birthday to our founder, Simon Cowell. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for wildlife!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. Cowell, Simon (11 June 2020). "I'm Simon Cowell – but I can't rocket you to stardom". Metro. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  7. "Wildlife Aid Foundation | Find Out More From WAF..." Wildlifeaid.org.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  8. "The Ashtead Link". The Ashtead Link - Journal of the Old Freemen's Association (27): 12–13, 16–17. March 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  9. "Wildlife Aid – YouTube (channel)". Youtube. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  10. "Simon's Last Wish". Wildlifeaid.org.uk.
  11. @wildlifeaid (15 July 2022). "Simon Cowell, our founder, has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer that is terminal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.