The AXE Factor! Simon cleans house in US X Factor

Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul and Steve Jones – ALL

FIRED from American show

Judge Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones have been unceremoniously dumped from the X Factor USA after just one season.

Simon Cowell’s former darling Paula Abdul today confirmed she had also been fired from the panel in a desperate shake-up by the mogul and the show’s producers.

‘Yes, it’s true; I won’t be returning to The X Factor next season,’ Abdul said in a statement today.

‘I’ve learned through my longevity in this industry that business decisions often times override personal considerations.

She continued: ‘Simon is, and will remain a dear friend of mine and I’ve treasured my experience working this past season. I want nothing more than for The X Factor to exceed ALL of their wildest dreams. This truly has been a blessing and I am most grateful.’

'Cleaning house': Nicole Scherzinger (left), Paula Abdul (centre) and Steve Jones (right) have all been axed from the X Factor USA, leaving only Simon Cowell and LA Reid on the panel — Nicole Scherzinger (left), Paula Abdul (centre) and Steve Jones (right) have all been axed from the X Factor USA, leaving only Simon Cowell and LA Reid on the panel

Cowell, who first worked with Abdul on American Idol, wants to re-boot the show after its ratings fell short of expectations when it was launched last year.

The decision to dismiss Abdul has surprised many, given how hard Cowell worked to secure her on the panel.

It took several months for her contract to negotiated and she only closed her deal hours before the first televised audition.

‘You just have to get that chemistry, and she’s right,’ he said at the time. ‘I’ve never found anyone better than her.’

Both Abdul and Scherzinger were embroiled in the controversy surrounding the shock elimination of 13-year-old frontrunner Rachel Crow.

Cowell hinted at a major changes on the show last month when he was quoted as saying: ‘We change these shows all the time.’

And he said in a statement today: ‘I want to say a massive thank you to Paula, Nicole and Steve for being part of The X Factor last year. I’m sure all three are going to have massive success in what they do next , but now is the time to thank them all for everything they did last year.’

Although the X Factor performed solidly in the ratings, hovering around the 12 million mark, it did not attract the same kind of huge viewing figures regularly attained by Cowell’s former show American Idol.

SIMON’S STATEMENT IN FULL

‘I want to say a massive thank you to Paula, Nicole and Steve for being part of The X Factor last year. We had a lot of fun making the show together and importantly, we found some real talent and stars. You do develop friendships with the people you work with and Paula, in particular, is a very close friend and I expect to be working with her on another project in the near future. I’m sure all three are going to have massive success in what they do next , but now is the time to thank them all for everything they did last year.’