Simon Cowell Out as Weekly Judge for British ‘X Factor’

Former “American Idol” judge will scale back his duties across the pond, and says that Mariah Carey will play a part on his upcoming series

Simon Cowell may be a man of many talents, but omnipresence isn’t one of them.

Confirming that not even Cowell can be everywhere at once, British network ITV said on Monday that, with the American version of “The X Factor” being prepped for its upcoming premiere, Cowell will no longer serve as a weekly judge for the British “X Factor,” on which Cowell serves as an executive producer.

Also read: “Sharon Osbourne: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Goes ‘Deeper’ Than ‘X Factor’”

Not to worry, however; the famously cantankerous Brit will still be “an enormous presence” on the show, according to ITV’s director of television Peter Fincham.

Fincham tells British newspaper the Mirror, “We are talking to him about ways he can have an on-screen presence later in the show. He will not be a weekly judge, but he will be an enormous presence backstage as always.”

In the meantime, the British series is assembling a new panel of judges for the singing competition, which will reportedly be announced in the coming weeks.

As for the American “X Factor,” which is scheduled to debut on Fox this fall, Cowell announced Friday that Mariah Carey will most likely play a part on the show, though it’s unlikely that Carey, who’s currently expecting twins, will be on the judges’panel.

Speaking with radio DJ Jackie Brown, of Spokane’s 92.9 FM, Cowell noted, “I think Mariah will have a role on the live shows. I met her recently and she was on great form… Her idea was to be the judge of the judges, which of course only Mariah could come up with. She’ll be involved in some form. I literally adore her. I love her to bits.”

Hear Cowell’s interview with Brown below:

As reported in March, former Island Def Jam chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid has been tapped as a judge for the series, which is currently holding auditions in several cities.

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