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19
December 2006
Simon
Cowell Signs Three-Year
ITV Deal
X
Factor judge
Simon
Cowell
has signed an exclusive
three-year deal with ITV
for a reported
£20m.
The
deal assures a return
for the talent show and
means Cowell will appear
on ITV until
2009.
He
will also bring his
number one US series
America's Got Talent,
which features former
Daily Mirror editor
Piers Morgan on the
panel, to the
UK.
"ITV
gave me my first big
break in TV five years
ago for which I will be
eternally grateful,"
said Simon
Cowell.
"It
has been a fantastic
relationship which
continues to go from
strength to
strength."
ITV
director of television
Simon Shaps said: "I am
absolutely delighted to
be working with Simon,
and his production
company, on X Factor and
a variety of exciting
new formats over the
coming
years".
The
network would not
comment on the money
paid to Cowell, but if
the reported figure of
£20m is correct it
makes him the UK's
highest-paid television
personality, knocking
Jonathan Ross into
second place.
10.4
million viewers saw
21-year-old Leona Lewis
crowned the winner of
The X Factor on Saturday
night.
Her
prize was a £1m
recording contract, and
she will now release a
version of the song A
Moment Like This, which
was first recorded by
American Idol winner
Kelly
Clarkson.
Simon
Cowell also judges that
programme, and has a
separate deal with the
Fox network in the
US.
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