Ellen DeGeneres quits American Idol

It seems to be going from bad to worse.

We all knew Simon was quitting American Idol, but now the next star judge has jumped off the panel.

Ellen, who signed a five year contract with American Idol, said:

“A couple months ago, I let Fox and the American Idol producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me.”

So there are now two holes to be filled.

Jennifer Lopez is being tipped to replace Ellen, whereas a bunch of names are still being thrown around to replace Simon.

Will it be Justin Timberlake, Harry Connick Jr or even Piers Morgan?

Who would you like to see sipping water in Coca Cola cups in the hot seats?

Years after Simon replaced Nigel, Nigel now may replace Simon

Nigel Lythgoe is being tipped as the chap to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol.

Ironically Simon replaced Nasty Nigel from Pop Idol in the UK all those years back, but the switcheroo may happen the other way round this time.

Simon is going off to create American X-Factor and bring in the dollars for himself instead of Simon Fuller.

Do U think Nigel should leave So You Think You Can Dance, and join American Idol, or is there someone better?

The Saturdays secure documentary deal with ITV2

The Saturdays have announced that they are filming their own documentary for ITV2.

‘The Saturdays: 24/7′ will be a four part documentary following the five girls around.

Rochelle Wiseman announced:

“I am pleased to tell you guys we are filming our own documentary series for ITV2!! Showing from the end of August, Thursdays at 9 x”

The Saturdays are not the only pop group in recent days to secure a documentary with ITV2. Simon Cowell secured a deal for Olly Murs to have his life made into a documentary to help promote his new album coming out later in the year.

You can see ‘The Saturdays: 24/7′, in August; until then follow Papture on Twitter for all your Saturdays news!

Click here to pre-order the Saturdays’ new album, Headlines, from iTunes.

Louis Walsh gives Geri Halliwell a slamming

We expect it from Simon Cowell, but this time Louis Walsh has been pulling out the claws and opened his bitchy mouth.

Louis Walsh told Star Magazine that Geri Halliwell knows nothing about the music business and that he didn’t think she had the skills to be a judge:

“All I can say is, Geri who? I mean, what does she know about the music business? She got the most boos from the crowd, too.”

Several celebrity judges have been chosen as replacements for both Dannii and Cheryl and some of them Louis actually liked:

“I thought Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls was absolutely brilliant when she stood in! I liked Natalie Imbruglia, and Katy Perry was great fun.”

This comes from the man that gave the world ‘Jedward’!

Cheryl Cole texts Simon some important news

Simon Cowell has received a text message from Cheryl Cole saying that she is on the mend.

Cheryl, who has pulled out of the final auditions and boot camp for this year’s X-Factor, is in a battle with malaria and is hopefully going to be back soon.

Cowell said:

“She is on the mend and looking forward to coming back to work. She is making a good recovery.”

This year’s X-Factor judging panel has seen more personnel changes than Kerry Katona’s marital bed!

Steve Brookstein starts rant against Simon Cowell

Do you remember X-Factor 2004 winner Steve Brookstein?

He was the one that got dropped by Sony/BMG only 8mths after his victory. So it may come as no surprise that he is not Simon Cowell’s greatest fan.

The singer is using his Twitter account to mount a personal tirade against the X-Factor mogul:

“Big debate on twitter as to whether or not JLS were miming tonight. With so many people having opinions I can’t remember if I’m allowed one. Just read the small print of my X Factor contract, ‘you agree to not to have an opinion unless it contains smoke blowing up SC’s arse‘.“

“Simon will bury him if it gets ugly. I only asked for £50,000 of my £1m contract to walk away quietly He offered me £12,500 lol“

Jealous or justified?

Team Steve or team Simon??

Cheryl Cole is seriously ill, but where are her celebrity friends?

Although Cheryl Cole came out of intensive care on Friday, she is still very sick as she battles the deadly disease, malaria.

Reports have suggested that the Girls Aloud star has fluid on the lungs, and is falling in and out of consciousness.

Although Simon Cowell and the X-Factor team have expressed their wishes that Cheryl returns to her healthy self as quickly as possible, we are yet to hear from any of her other celebrity friends.

Where are the get well wishes from Will.i.am, or more importantly from the rest of her Girls Aloud band mates?

Nadine’s half-hearted message was almost insulting: “Oh noo. You guys just told me about Cheryl I have been so paranoid about malaria my grandad had it. Let’s say a wee prayer all is ok. Xx“

Well at least her fans are rallying around her and hope she makes a speedy recovery…

X-Factor lose Cheryl Cole to malaria, but who will take her place?

Reports have emerged that Cheryl Cole’s mystery illness is in fact malaria.

Obviously we wish Cheryl a speedy recovery, but it can months for someone to fully recover from the disease.

That means the X-Factor is short of two judges!

With both Cheryl and Danni gone, at least from the auditions, will they manage to find enough celebrity guest judges to fill the spot?

Or will we be left with the two grumpy old men, Simon and Louis?

Now that Katie Price has launched her own pop career, maybe she can stand in for Cheryl??!!

Cheryl Cole pulls out of X-Factor

Over the weekend Britain’s favourite pop star, Cheryl Cole, had to pull out of a photoshoot after she fainted during the session.

She was having her photo taken for the upcoming season of X-Factor when she passed out.

The previous day Simon Cowell had jested with her during auditions, suggesting that she was hungover rather than ill.

He said to the audience: “Cheryl’s rather ill today. She might get a bit sulky and tired if  you’re not nice to her. She’s got the disease going around called “hangover”. You need to be gentle – she doesn’t want too much noise.“

Friends of the star have complained that she has been working too hard following her split from love rat Ashley Cole.

Her PR team have just issued a statement saying that Cheryl will be cancelling her work commitments for the coming week following her doctor’s advice.

Let’s hope she recovers pretty quickly as X-Factor without Cheryl and Simon’s flirting/fighting is seriously dull!

Katie Price prepares to launch her music career (get your earplugs ready)!

Katie Price has released a teaser of her new single ‘Free to Love Again‘ and it can only be described as horrendous!

In an attempt to milk her divorce from Peter Andre. she sings: “Not the one you’re looking for, let me save you from your pain. It’s time for me to let you go so you’re free to love again.“

Despite her voice being heavily synthesised, the track still grates on the ears.

This is her third attempt at becoming a pop star. We all remember her and Peter Andre butchering ‘A Whole New World’ and her disastrous attempt at becoming the Eurovision entry for the UK.

As Simon Cowell would say: “If you had lived 2,000 years ago and sung like that, I think they would have stoned you.”