Simon Cowell has announced that he will be leaving American Idol when this season ends on May.
According to the Hollywood Insider, Cowell told the Television Critics Association today that he will be leaving Idol in 2011 to fully devote himself to managing and judging the U.S. version of his British talent series The X Factor.
“We did talk about me staying on both shows but when we looked at the practicalities of that, it was impossible,” Cowell told the press. “In my opinion, it’s like having a good player and a good football team. The two have to be okay together. I believe it’s not my show, but it’s still very close to me. We made sure when we did this, that I would be protected. I’m confident it will continue to be the No. 1 show. Everyone is committed to keeping it that way,” Cowell said.
Although he was offered more money to stay with Idol, Cowell said it wasn’t about the cash and that he “felt like doing something different.”
“I’m doing X Factor in America because I believe I can find someone incredibly talented through this process,” Cowell continued. “This country, thank God, has got thousands and thousands of people still waiting to be discovered. I want to find a star at the end, I genuinely do.”
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