No one expected that from the son of Britain’s toughest talent judge.

During a recent episode of Britain’s Got Talent, 10-year-old Eric Cowell—yes, Simon Cowell’s own mini-me—stole the spotlight with a surprise appearance that left the audience in stitches. Fans thought they were about to witness the debut of a child prodigy. What they got instead? A hilariously chaotic freestyle rap that Simon definitely didn’t see coming.

Eric strutted onstage with confidence, grabbed the mic like a pro… and then proceeded to deliver one of the most wonderfully awkward performances in BGT history. His rhythm was all over the place, his rhymes made absolutely no sense, and it was clear within seconds: this was not about talent. It was about having fun—and the audience loved it.

Even Simon, the man whose glare has shattered dreams on live TV, burst out laughing. Trying (and failing) to keep a straight face, he watched his son fumble through his goofy, offbeat rap with the kind of proud-but-terrified smile only a dad could wear.

Fans online were quick to chime in, with reactions ranging from “Eric’s got the confidence, now we just need to work on the lyrics,” to “Best trainwreck I’ve seen in years — 10/10 would watch again.”

So, was this Eric’s grand entrance into showbiz? Not even close. The whole thing was planned as a cheeky gag, a light-hearted break from the usual nerve-wracking auditions. No judges. No buzzers. Just Eric, a mic, and a mission to make people laugh. And mission accomplished.

Simon’s made it clear in past interviews that he’s not pushing Eric toward fame. He wants his son to find his own passion—though with that level of stage confidence, the entertainment gene may already be kicking in.

If you missed it, do yourself a favor and watch the clip. It’s the kind of adorably awkward moment that reminds us all why live TV is so magical—and unpredictable.