Simon Cowell will no longer be a judge on American Idol after the end of this season. Cowell made the announcement in person Monday at the winter meeting of the TV Critics Association.
Cowell will instead create and launch a U.S. version of his hit U.K. reality-competition series, The X Factor, which will debut on the Fox network in the fall of 2011.
"I'm confident American Idol will continue to be the No. 1 show," Cowell said, despite his departure. "Everyone associated with it is working really hard and diligently, and there's no reason to think that will change," Cowell said.
Cowell's Idol contract expires after then end of the new season, which debuts Tuesday. Cowell has a personal stake in The X Factor, which is shown in 17 countries and reaches an estimated global audience of 500 million viewers.
As with Idol, The X Factor pits aspiring singers and performers against each other in a talent competition. The title refers to that intangible quality that defines star quality. As with Idol, the prize is a recording contract. The X Factor format is a joint venture between Cowell's production company, Syco, and Sony Music Entertainment.
"I don't know who's going to take the (Idol) job," Cowell said. "It's a great gig. I've devoted eight years of my life to it, and it's no exaggeration to say it changed my life. There will be no shortage of people wanting the job. "I'll say this, though: It's important to get somebody who knows what they're talking about." Fox Broadcasting chairman Peter Rice refused to speculate about who might be on Fox's shortlist to replace Cowell.
Cowell said it would be different if Idol were in a ratings funk, but he's leaving it while it's the most-watched program on TV. "I'm very proud of what the show has achieved," Cowell said. "I'm leaving on a fantastic high." The X Factor gives Cowell a chance to try something new, he said. "This feels different."
Cowell would not speculate about who will judge The X Factor, but he did not rule out bringing back his former Idol colleague, Paula Abdul. "I adore Paula," Cowell said. "Whatever happens, I will continue working with her in some capacity."