Brother says Simon Cowell will leave American Idol

First, we lost Paula Abdul as a judge on “American Idol.” Now, it looks like we’re going to lose Simon Cowell soon. 

Simon’s brother Tony Cowell said Simon will leave “American Idol” at the end of 2010.  His brother Tony made the revelation on his podcast titled “The Cowell Factor.” 

The Associated Press story is posted below via NewsOK.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Simon Cowell’s brother says the next season of “American Idol” will be the judge’s last.

Tony Cowell said in his weekly podcast, “The Cowell Factor,” that a statement was being prepared that would certify that the acerbic British judge was leaving the popular Fox signing competition at the end of 2010.

Simon Cowell will concentrate on bringing his popular U.K. talent show “The X Factor” to the U.S. next year, his brother said on the Saturday podcast, which has since been removed.

“Meanwhile, Simon prepares for a new season of ‘Idol,’ or should I say, his last season of ‘Idol,’” Cowell’s older brother said. “A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave ‘Idol’ at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of ‘X Factor’ to U.S. TV in 2011.”