London, May 10 (Inditop.com) The organisers of “American Idol” want English singer Elton John to replace Simon Cowell as a judge.
According to the organisers, Elton could be the best replacement for Cowell, who will quit after the ongoing ninth season ends. They believe that his presence will bolster TRPs, which have slumped since the news of Cowell’s exit has come out, reported dailyexpress.co.uk.
“Everyone loves Sir Elton. As well as being outspoken, he has an air of gravitas as an icon of the music industry,” said a producer. “He’s British too. Having Sir Elton on board would be a guaranteed ratings blockbuster all over the world.”
Elton, 63, rejected proposals from Fox TV when it offered him the job in January. However, last week he met the executives again. The organisers are believed to have offered him more than the 22 million pounds a season they pay Cowell.
The show’s audience has fallen since Cowell said he was quitting to launch the US version of “X Factor”.
“Part of the pitch to get Sir Elton on board was that the show can become an even bigger fundraiser for various charities. We’re barely more than a cat’s whisker away from getting ink on paper,” said a source.