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By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Peace out: Simon Cowell gives love to the cameras as it is suggested that he has yet to sign on to the next UK series of X Factor


ITV’s director of television has suggested that Simon Cowell is yet to sign a deal to appear on this year’s X Factor.

Appearing on Richard Bacon’s Radio 5 Live show this afternoon, Peter Fincham was asked if Cowell would be returning to the judging panel when the new series which begins in the autumn.

He said: ‘It has to remain speculation. The X Factor is coming back and is back in the ITV schedule this autumn. Simon will be closely involved with it as he is always involved with it.

‘I don’t want to sound like an evasive politician, but I’m not in a position to confirm or deny any of the individuals to be sitting in those chairs or on the X Factor this autumn.’

Bacon then asked him: ‘Simon Cowell has yet to agree to appear in the next series?’
Fincham replied: ‘We have an agreement which has been publicly announced for both the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. They will be on ITV screen for the next three years.

Cowell was spotted outside his Los Angeles mansion today, and perhaps in a sign of goodwill to the network, flashed a peace sign.


Take good care of her: Simon hands over the keys of his £1million Bugatti Veyron to his personal valet as he heads inside his mansion


In limbo: ITV’s director of television said he was 'not in a position to confirm or deny any of the individuals to be sitting in those chairs or on the X Factor'


He pulled into the driveway of his Los Angeles mansion in his £1million Bugatti Veyron and handed the keys over to his personal valet.

He then flashed a peace sign to the waiting cameras as he made his way into his £15million house.

A short while later, he was back in another of his cars as he took his Bentley convertible for a spin round the Hollywood Hills.

Asked if it would be a disaster if Cowell failed to appear in the UK series, Fincham added: ‘No, of course it wouldn’t and you shouldn’t look at it that way Richard.


Not a care: ITV may be sweating but Simon looked carefree as he went for a spin in his Bentley...


... and looked happy and content as he flashed his trademark peace sign to the cameras


‘The show will be there and when we’re ready to announce who will be on it we will announce who’s on it.’

Simon is in Los Angeles to start proceedings on the U.S. version of the X Factor, with auditions starting in Los Angeles on the 27th of this month.

Reports this weekend have suggested that he has warned Cheryl Cole she may not get a job as one of the judges.

According to The People, Cowell may not be able to persuade the Fox network that Cheryl is the right celebrity for the job and a source told the paper that Simon told her: 'Sorry, but business is business.'


'Still in the running': While Cowell has yet to rule out Cheryl Cole, he hinted that the chosen judge for U.S. X Factor will be a high profile American artist


This week Cowell confirmed that George Michael, former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul are all being considered for the show, but no-one has signed on the dotted line as yet.

While Cheryl is understood to be be 'still very much in the running,' Cowell hinted that the chosen judge will be a high profile American artist.

He said: 'It’s not about necessarily the TV show per se, it’s people. You genuinely gotta trust that they’re gonna be able to do the job you’re paying them to do.

'And like I said, a hit-maker who worked in America and has had experience, I think is crucial to this panel as well.'

Of the heavily-pregnant Carey, Cowell said: 'Yeah, I’ve spoken to her. I mean literally, we’ve spoken to lots of people. I’ve spoken to Paula...And then new people come along… [Two days ago], we met somebody who I’ve never met before in my life, who I just loved.


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source: dailymail