«It’s been speculated for a while now that Simon Cowell would leave the UK X Factor in order to concentrate on the US version of the show – and now it’s official.
ITV has confirmed that Simon won’t be appearing as a judge on the next series, although he would continue to be involved with the program. Cheryl Cole also looks set to leave the judging panel, and there is speculation that Lilly Allen and Spice Girl Mel B will join Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh to replace Cheryl and Simon.