X Factor: Simon Cowell quits weekly judge role

Simon Cowell won't be returning as a weekly judge on the new series of The X Factor.

There have been loads of rumours about his role because he's busy launching the show in America.

ITV said it's looking at ways for Simon to appear later on in the series - and we're told he will continue to have an "enormous presence" backstage.

"We have known for some time that Simon's on-screen presence would be less this year," an ITV spokesman said.

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"That is something we are completely comfortable with."

There's no word yet on the other judges Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh, and Cheryl Cole - who has been rumoured to be in the running for a job on The X Factor USA.

Britain's not got Simon

The new Britain's Got Talent judging panel - David Hasselhoff, Amanda Holden and Michael McIntyre.

Meanwhile, Britain's Got Talent kicked off on Saturday without Simon Cowell on the panel.

The ratings were down compared to the first episode of previous series, but Simon's due to return as a judge for the live shows.