Simon Cowell Leaving 'American Idol'

Simon Cowell, the judge on American Idol known for his relatively harsh critiques of performers, has decided to quit the show when his contract ends in 2010, according to The Sun, a British tabloid.

Cowell has been a judge on the show since its start in 2002, but his contract expires after season nine, which starts this January and will end in May 2010. In the past, Cowell has hinted at being bored with his current role.

Cowell leaving will be a big blow to the show, whose ratings have already been slipping the past three years. Season nine has already seen the departure of another original judge, Paula Abdul, who will be replaced by talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

Tony Cowell, Simon’s brother, hosts a weekly radio podcast called “The Cowell Factor,” on which he said that Simon was preparing for his last season.

“A press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everyone expected – Simon will leave Idol at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of The X Factor to US TV in 2011,” Tony Cowell said.

The ninth season of American Idol begins in January on Fox.