Cowell Leaving Idol?

Would an “American Idol” minus Simon Cowell ever be as sweet?

Cowell’s future on the show has gotten a little murky as the judge’s brother recently announced on his “The Cowell Factor” podcast that the biting Brit might not be signing on for another season of the singing competition after 2010.

During the show, Cowell’s older brother dropped the bomb, adding “a press statement is being prepared which will confirm what everybody expected: Simon will leave ‘Idol’ at the end of 2010 to concentrate on bringing the American version of ‘X Factor’ to U.S. TV in 2011.”

‘Idol’ had a shakeup earlier this year when judge Paula Abdul exited the show after eight seasons.