SIMON SET TO LEAVE AMERICAN IDOL

The internet is awash with rumours that Simon Cowell will be leaving American Idol after this season to launch and star in the US version of the X Factor, the hit show that replaced Idol in the UK.

There’s a big incentive for Simon to do so as, although he earns megabucks as an Idol judge, his earnings from the show are limited as he doesn’t own the format (that’s owned by his long-time rival Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment).

The X Factor on the other hand is owned by SYCO, his own UK based production company. If he can take that to the same level of success as Idol his earnings will increase massively as he’ll earn royalties as the format owner as well as appearance fees as a judge.

Bookies are already taking bets on potential replacements on the Idol judging panel, with America’s Got Talent’s Piers Morgan as the favourite with odds of 2/1. Other possibilities being touted are:

Sean Diddy Combs 3/1

Quincy Jones 3.5/1

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds 4/1

Simon Fuller 6/1

Rob Stevenson 6/1

Russell Simmons 6.5/1

Follow RumerMills on Twitter by adding @RumerMills