Simon Cowell to announce shock retirement from television?

‘Britain's Got Talent’ creator created a stir on Saturday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.

Simon Cowell »

See more news, pictures and video.

Hot news

• Rumor January 2026

  Death Hoax says “Simon Cowell dies at 66”
• TV Watch January 11, 2026

  ‘The X Factor’ named Greatest TV Show of all time
• Rumor Central January 2026

  Is Simon Cowell secretly gay and hiding in the closet?

Sad news for Cowell fans. Speculation had been rife that the creator of Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor is about to announce his retirement from television, at age 66, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 11/01/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a television host isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a television host just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouSimon

For a little while on Saturday evening, #ThankYouSimon was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Simon Cowell was unlike any other television host we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouSimon”
— @universalObserver, 10 Jan 2026

“Didn't Simon Cowell retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 10 Jan 2026

© 2026 MediaMass All rights reserved. Do not reproduce (even with permission).

Celebrity Central