Simon Cowell has announced he will leave American Idol this year and launch X Factor Stateside.

The British mogul made the shock announcement at an event for US TV critics after signing a reported £100 million deal to take his hit ITV show to the Susan Boylewith his programme- when it hits screens in 2011.

Simon will produce the show and be a judge on it, like he is in the UK. And speculation is already rife about who could join him on the panel.

Cheryl Cole, Paula Abdul and Victoria Beckham have all been linked with the new show.