Simon Cowell, who was effectively the face of American Idol until he walked away in 2010, had nothing but fond memories of the show, which will be coming to an end next year.
Fox announced Monday morning that Idol will get a 15th season, but that will be its last. Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. will return as judges and Ryan Seacrest will host again. The network promised a “season-long celebratory event” for the season.
After the news came down, Cowell sent a statement to People, recalling the good times with his fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, host Seacrest and new host Brian Dunkleman.
“We had a blast! Me, Paula, Randy, Ryan – and not forgetting Brian,” Cowell told People. “Thanks to the fans we were able to make some great shows and found some amazing artists. Fox took a risk on a brand new show and I want to thank them for giving us the opportunity. They really were great times.”
Cowell also tweeted a statement:
Cowell gained fame on Idol as the “mean judge,” with is harsh critiques of singers. He was one of the inaugural judges in 2002 and stayed with the show until 2010 after seven seasons.
Former executive producer and current So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe told the Associated Press that it was sad to hear, but understood why Fox made the decision.
“Having thought about it, I thought, ‘No, it’s the right time and very brave, I think, of Fox to do this,’” Lythgoe said.
Idol’s 14th season finishes up this week. Season 15 will begin in January 2016.
for all TV updates, follow Daniel on Twitter
image courtesy of INFphoto.com