Simon Cowell Confirms Departure From 'American Idol'  Simon Cowell |
Music mogul Simon Cowell has announced that he will quit talent show 'American Idol' when the new season ends in May.
Speculation about Cowell's future on the show has been rife for months, and now he has confirmed the news of his departure, revealing that he plans to launch his UK show "X Factor" on US television in 2011 and wants time to concentrate on that.
The news of the departure comes just months after judge Paula Abdul quit the show over an alleged pay dispute in August last year. She has been replaced by chat show host Ellen DeGeneres.
The ninth series of the show starts on Tuesday in America.
