Wednesday, 22 October 2008

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Simon Cowell: I'm not retiring

Judge denies plans to quit hit shows The X Factor and American Idol

Simon Cowell became famous after he became a judge on Pop Idol in 2001

Simon Cowell has denied claims he is to quit The X Factor after this series.

The 49-year-old judge remarked last year that he would quit showbusiness once he hit his 50th birthday. But it seems he's changed his mind.

‘Simon’s not going anywhere,’ his spokesman Max Clifford says. ‘He’s told me he’ll go on and on and on. And so he should.'

Simon fronts and produces both The X Factor and American Idol and is the brains behind Britain’s Got Talent and the numerous spin-offs around the world.

Meanwhile, on the ITV talent show Simon and new judge Cheryl Cole, 25, have been accused of leaving out Dannii Minogue, 36, and Louis Walsh, 56, after becoming convinced one of their own acts will win.

Diana Vickers, 17, has been named as the new favourite to take The X Factor crown.

SEE PICS Who will win this year’s X Factor?>>>

Holly Arnold