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It's been confirmed by the man himself! Not that we didn't know about it already - his brother broke the news in late December!

At the Television Critics Association's winter press tour in Pasadena, Simon Cowell announced to reporters that "The X Factor will launch in 2011" in the U.S. and therefore, "this will be my last season on American Idol."

So I guess we'll be able to watch him judge that show's American version! He also exec produces. Think he'll take his AI audience with him?

Simon says: "I'm delighted to be continuing to work with FOX. We have a fantastic relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this."

With Paula AND Simon gone from Idol, is there any reason to keep watching?

Sidebar, Simon Cowell had a joint interview with Ellen DeGeneres in Entertainment Weekly where Ellen stated, "If Simon goes, I go!"