Simon Cowell has begun treatment to get rid of his addiction of smoking at an addiction clinic in after friends and family urged him to give up the dirty habbit.

The 52-year-old music mogul and X Factor boss smokes more than 15 cigarettes a day and has been smoking at age eight. According to a report in The People, he took the decision after Family and friends have begged him to stop smoking.

The report citing a source said that, "Simon made it his New Year resolution. He's been smoking since a very young age and feels the time is now right to try and stop." The repot also cited the source saying that Simon does not have any serious medical condition but is under pressure due to his busy work schedule.

Simon's mother and some of his closest friends are believed to have been forcing him to try and quit the dirty habit. He has a family history of lung cancer, according to the report.

Simon's spokesman Max Clifford has said that Simon is a healthy and looks after himself and his diet well. He also added that Simon had made a New Year's resolution to give up smoking previous New Year and has reduced his smoking.