Simon Cowell wants to clone his dogs.
Simon Cowell with Squiddly and Diddly
The music mogul has asked aides to look into the prospect led by South Korean cloning company Sooam Biotech because he is so scared of losing his beloved Yorkshire Terriers Squiddly and Diddly.
A source revealed: "He has briefed aides and they are looking to see whether Sooam is a viable option.
"Sooam seems to be the only plausible company at the moment and Simon is expecting a report back soon from his aides confirming whether it's a goer."
However, the new canine companions would come at a mind-boggling price for the 55-year-old TV personality as the company - which cloned Britain's first dog, Winnie, last year - charges £60,000 per pooch.
Simon - who shares the dogs with his partner Lauren Silverman, the mother of his 17-month-old son Eric - recently inherited his late mum Julie's Yorkshire Terrier Freddy when she passed away aged 89, but his own two mutts still have a special place in his heart so he is eager for the procedure to happen soon to ensure he doesn't lose them.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Money is not an issue. Simon is determined to make it happen.
"Clearly, Simon wants to make sure that any cloning procedure is above board and safe for the dog. That's very much his priority."
Tagged in Simon Cowell Lauren Silverman