Simon Cowell is handpicking his favorite “X Factor” staff for his U.S. version of the show.
According to sources, he has already approached the Bafta award winning “X Factor” executive producer Andew Linares to work on the launch of the new series next Spring.
Richard Holloway, another executive producer has also been told he will have to divide his time between the UK and U.S. series which will be screen concurrently with the British show next autumn.
Also 60 staff from the post-production company The Farm, are being shipped out to LA to work in the editing of the new series.
Irish “X Factor” judge Louis Walsh accused Simon of neglecting his one act left in the show last week.
“Simon is never there for his acts. Dannii Minogue and I talk to our acts every single day, you can ask anyone. But with Simon it’s one rule for him and one for everyone else.
“He went off to New York last week to collect his Emmy for his work on American TV and left One Direction to pick their own song.
“He delegates all the responsibility to his staff. He won’t even come to the studio to record his video transmissions. He makes the camera crew come to his house because he’s too fabulous to come to the studio.”
Last week rumors surfaced that Cheryl Cole had been offered a lucrative deal to join Cowell in America and become a judge on the stateside version.
“X Factor” host Dermot O'Leary has also being rumored to join the ranks for the U.S. version.
A TV publicist, who has close links with the series, told the Daily Mail: “There is a feeling that Simon is asset-stripping the British series and taking all the talent to America so that show is a big success there.
“ITV are being kept in the dark over a lot of decisions.
“They have just signed up for another three years of his shows but are discovering that many of their most talented staff could be jumping ship.”
Commenting on the speculation an ITV spokesman said: “ITV recently signed an unprecedented three-year deal for The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.
“Each year we work closely with Talkback Thames and Syco to ensure the shows return bigger and better than ever, and 2011 will be no different.”
Comments