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Media
Cowell confirms X-Factor US launch and American Idol departure
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 12 January 2010
So, within minutes of us saying that Simon Cowell was evading the issue of whether or not he would stick with ‘American Idol’ after this year, given rumours he was going to launch a US version of ‘X-Factor’, Cowell stood up and addressed the issue head on. Well, maybe not within minutes, but within hours, certainly.
Yes, Cowell yesterday confirmed that he will launch a US version of ‘X-Factor’ in Autumn 2011, and that, as a result, he will step down as a judge on ‘American Idol’ after this year’s season. ‘X-Factor USA’ will also air on Fox, the US network that broadcasts ‘Idol’. It’s not clear what that means for the post-Cowell ‘Idol’, though it airs in the first half of the year, so it is viable for Fox to air both telly talent formats.
As previously reported, Cowell last week told USA Today that he thought ‘Idol’ could prosper without him, saying: “Whether I’m on it or off it, I think the show will flourish without me, I genuinely do”.
Confirming plans to launch ‘X-Factor’ stateside next year, he said yesterday: “I’m thrilled that we have put a date on the launch of the US version of ‘The X-Factor’, and delighted to be continuing to work with Fox. We have a fantastic relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this”.
Speculation has already begun that Paula Abdul might be invited to join the judging panel on ‘X-Factor USA’. She, of course, was axed from the ‘Idol’ panel after eight seasons last year. Cheryl Cole is also being tipped as a judge on the US version of the show.
Whether both Cowell and Cole could concurrently work on both the UK and US versions of the programme once the series is in live sing-off stage isn’t clear. It would presumably involve a lot of flights across the Atlantic, so possibly depends on whether they have any environmental conscience whatsoever. Which probably means they could.
