The chief of ITV, Peter Fincham, has confirmed that music mogul Simon Cowell will not be a weekly presence on the forthcoming series of X Factor. 

The popular talent competition is due to launch shortly in the USA, but the UK version will see some significant changes, and Fincham explained the nature of the proposed ideas in an interview with The Sunday Mirror:

"We have been in constant negotiations with Simon about ways in which we can move things forward and help The X Factor evolve,"

"We have been aware that his on-screen involvement in this series will not be as great as ­previous years for months now. It is something that we are completely comfortable with."

He also explained that Cowell is currently in negotiations for screen time, and added:

"We are talking to him about ways he can have an on-screen presence later in the show. He will not be a weekly judge, but he will be an enormous presence backstage as always."

Watch Cowell discuss his plans to take the show to the U.S here: