Fox dumps Idol judges, say insiders

Rumours suggest judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Nicki Minaj have been axed from "American Idol". Source: AP

KEITH Urban and his fellow American Idol judges are rumoured to have been axed from the show, with an insider saying they have not been asked to return for next season.

A source  with knowledge of Fox's plans said: "All four are gone.

"They feel they've lost their core audience and they want it back."

The show has failed to pull in big audiences this season, with its figures falling to a low of 11 million.

Viewing has been in decline for several seasons now. At its height during Season 6, Idol attracted about 30 million viewers an episode.

The plan to revamp the show and make major changes is a bid to attract younger viewers according to sources.

All four judges have options to return for another season, but Fox won't be picking them up, according to the knowledgeable individual, who said: "No more big checks for divas."

According to Reuters, Fox and Fremantle declined comment for this story, as did a representative for Keith Urban.

Representatives for Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Mel B dumps Seven for Channel Nine gig

Source: news.com.au

AUSTRALIA'S adopted Spice Girl Mel B is not finished with her local TV close-up just yet, jumping ship from Seven to Nine for its revamped series of Australia's Got Talent.

The surprise signing marks another poaching from Channel 7's roster by Nine programming boss Michael Healy, who wooed Brown away from The X Factor for AGT after Seven dropped the show from its 2013 schedule.

Scary Spice aka Mel Brown is already part of the talent franchise's family, having joined the panel of America's Got Talent last month.

Brown said the new gig "will be a perfect fit for me and a great opportunity to continue to spend time in Australia and discover more of the exceptional talent you have an abundance of (here)."

Known for her acid-tongued assessments of both the talent and her co-stars (clashing on and off screen with former X Factor cohort Natalie Bassingthwaite), the sassy singer added: "I'm having a wonderful time working with the America's Got Talent team and I can't wait for Australia's Got Talent on Nine. I know we will have a blast, and I'm sure some fireworks as well."

Her Nine signing is a blow to The X Factor, with rumours fellow judge Guy Sebastian is also considering his future on the top-rating program.

Healy boasted: "We have a superstar line-up of judges for Australia's Got Talent and with this first announcement of Mel B we are confident the audience will be excited to know she is returning to Australian television screens. Mel is a wonderful artist, the Australian public love her and we're delighted she's joining Channel 9."

A national audition tour kicked off in Melbourne this weekend, check the program's website for local casting call dates.
 

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