Simon Cowell has shared a heartfelt birthday message for Captain Tom Moore as the veteran turned 100.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 60, hailed Captain Moore as a “world hero” after he raised £30 million for NHS charities during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a video message shared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday morning, Cowell praised him as “an inspiration.”
“Hello Captain Tom, this is Simon Cowell,” he said. “I hear it’s your 100th birthday and I want to say that in itself is remarkable.
“Happy Birthday. But I also want to congratulate you on everything else you are doing for the country at the moment.
“You are a total inspiration. I was going to say you’re a national hero – I think you’re a world hero.
“Keep doing this, please, for the next 100 years. Sending you all my love. Have the most amazing day.
He concluded: “And once again, thank you for everything you’re doing for so many people. I salute you, sir.”
Captain Tom Moore’s 100th Birthday Flypast – In pictures
1/20
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday
Reuters
2/20
Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore with his daughter Hannah, as they wave to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday.
PA
3/20
One of the Spitfire planes that set off this morning for Captain Moore’s 100th birthday flypast
@RAFBBMF
4/20
Captain Tom Moore with his family on his 100th Birthday
BBC
5/20
People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday,
Reuters
6/20
Captain Tom Moore with his family on his 100th Birthday
BBC
7/20
A truck displays a message of thanks to the NHS and army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday
Reuters
8/20
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday,
Reuters
9/20
People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday
Reuters
10/20
Captain Tom Moore on his 100th Birthday
BBC
11/20
Boris Johnson pays tribute to Captain Tom Moore’s 100th Birthday
@borisohnson
12/20
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday as a truck displays a birthday message
Reuters
13/20
A banner marking 100th birthday of army veteran Captain Tom Moore hangs above windows, ahead of the Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast over his house
Reuters
14/20
Placards marking 100th birthday of army veteran Captain Tom Moore are pictured, ahead of the Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast over his house
Reuters
15/20
A letter released by Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore and dictated to his grandson as he celebrates his 100th birthday
PA
16/20
A happy birthday message is displayed for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday,
Reuters
17/20
Handout photo of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he watches a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday
PA
18/20
A army officer applauds for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday
Reuters
19/20
A man polishes a letter box painted blue to mark the 100th birthday of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore close to the home in Marston Moretaine, near Bedford.
PA
20/20
Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he waves to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday.
PA
1/20
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday
Reuters
2/20
Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore with his daughter Hannah, as they wave to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday.
PA
3/20
One of the Spitfire planes that set off this morning for Captain Moore’s 100th birthday flypast
@RAFBBMF
4/20
Captain Tom Moore with his family on his 100th Birthday
BBC
5/20
People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday,
Reuters
6/20
Captain Tom Moore with his family on his 100th Birthday
BBC
7/20
A truck displays a message of thanks to the NHS and army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday
Reuters
8/20
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday,
Reuters
9/20
People watch as Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday
Reuters
10/20
Captain Tom Moore on his 100th Birthday
BBC
11/20
Boris Johnson pays tribute to Captain Tom Moore’s 100th Birthday
@borisohnson
12/20
Royal Air Force (RAF) planes fly past the house of army veteran Captain Tom Moore marking his 100th birthday as a truck displays a birthday message
Reuters
13/20
A banner marking 100th birthday of army veteran Captain Tom Moore hangs above windows, ahead of the Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast over his house
Reuters
14/20
Placards marking 100th birthday of army veteran Captain Tom Moore are pictured, ahead of the Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast over his house
Reuters
15/20
A letter released by Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore and dictated to his grandson as he celebrates his 100th birthday
PA
16/20
A happy birthday message is displayed for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday,
Reuters
17/20
Handout photo of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he watches a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday
PA
18/20
A army officer applauds for army veteran Captain Tom Moore on his 100th birthday
Reuters
19/20
A man polishes a letter box painted blue to mark the 100th birthday of Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore close to the home in Marston Moretaine, near Bedford.
PA
20/20
Second World War veteran Captain Tom Moore as he waves to a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast of a Spitfire and a Hurricane passing over his home as he celebrates his 100th birthday.
PA
Captain Moore originally set out to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together by doing 100 laps of his garden in Bedfordshire but wildly exceeded his original target after winning the nation’s hearts.
He later hit the number one spot in the UK charts with a cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone recorded with musical theatre legend Michael Ball.
A special RAF flypast soared over his home on Thursday morning, with a Hurricane and a Spitfire performing loops in the air.
He was also appointed as an honorary colonel to mark his 100th birthday and has received more than 125,000 birthday cards from members of the public – so many that a special sorting office had to be set up at his grandson’s school.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.