The American Idol viewers who are left already know that the judge’s panel is again going to look different in the fall, but it’s now been confirmed that some of the key creative forces behind the show will not be back. Executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick are following Fox president of alternative programming Mike Darnell out the door.
The Wrap reported Tuesday that Lythgoe and Warwick will both be leaving, this time for good. The two worked on the British show that inspired it, Pop Idol, and helped the show make the transition to America in 2002. Lythgoe did take a break from Idol in 2008, but came back in 2010.
This news comes after Darnell announced that he would be leaving his post, although he claimed that Idol’s slipping viewership had nothing to do with his sudden decision. It is also happening while rumors are still flying about who will replace Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson. It is expected that Keith Urban will leave, but he’s yet to confirm that.
It’s been suggested that Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson and other past Idol contestants might judge, but that hasn’t been confirmed either.
Sources for The Hollywood Reporter say that veteran News Corp. executive David Hill will be hired to oversee Idol and Fox’s other ailing singing competition, The X Factor. Hill, who is Australian like his boss Rupert Murdoch, is known for his expertise in sports (THR notes that he’s considered “the Roger Ailes of sports” by some), so Hill’s appointment is an interesting choice.
Fox didn’t confirm either the Wrap’s or THR’s reports.
image: Fox