Tony Cowell, brother to famed music executive and “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell, said on his weekly podcast that Cowell will be departing “Idol” after the upcoming ninth season.
“Meanwhile, Simon prepares for a new season of Idol—or should I say, his last season of Idol,” said Tony. “OK, I will. Because it is. As I sit here with my family in the sunny Caribbean, a press statement is being prepared, which will confirm what everyone expected: Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of X Factor to U.S. TV in 2011.”
Neither FOX nor the show has offered a comment on the claim.
Rumors that Cowell was looking to depart “Idol” for a potential American “X Factor” began circulating earlier this year, when the negotiation process with the show’s judges was at the forefront of entertainment gossip.
Transcript credit: EW
