Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol

Simon Cowell will be leaving “American Idol” at the end of the season and starring in an American version of his British hit music show, “X Factor,” starting in 2011, according to reports.

Cowell, whose “Idol” contract expires in May and who has been in talks with Fox since last summer, is preparing to announce the new arrangement with Fox early next year, the Times Of London reports.

The future of “Idol” would be thrown into serious doubt if the show’s indisputable star leaves, it would appear.

Officials from Fox, “Idol” and Cowell’s own company yesterday refused comment.

Enjoy the new season of “Idol” because it will probably be the last.

No one in charge of the show — or of the network that airs it, Fox — is saying that.

But if reports that Simon Cowell will end his run on “Idol” after this season and bring his monster Brit hit “X Factor” to the US in 2011 are true, then it’s curtains for the TV show that defined the decade.