Cowell Leaving ‘American Idol’

“American Idol” judge Simon Cowell announced that he’ll be leaving the popular Fox talent show at the end of the current season. Cowell’s popular U.K. talent show, “The X Factor,” will be coming to the United States in the fall of 2011 with the acerbic critic in tow, according to Fox.

“I want to leave ‘Idol’ this year bigger and better than it was in the past,” Cowell said at the TCA tour Monday.

Cowell will be both executive producer and judge on “The X Factor.”