Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol

Simon Cowell is the next judge leaving American Idol. Cowell has announced that he is leaving the hit show after his contract ends in 2010. The British music executive- known for his harsh criticisms- will be moving on to judge and produce an American version of his British show The X Factor which will air on FOX in 2011, according to Usmagazine.com. Cowell said in a statement, “I felt like doing something different. I want to leave Idol this year bigger and better than it’s been before.”