You'll miss him when he's gone.

Simon Cowell says he won't be on American Idol forever. In fact, he's pretty much announced his departure date from the blockbuster show:

"There has to come a point when I will step down from being on camera and remain behind the scenes because you can't keep doing this for ever.

"I have three more seasons under contract with American Idol and that will be it. And it will probably come at the same time (for talent show The X Factor) in the UK.

"I am contracted for another two or three seasons in Britain and I think by that point the public will be sick to death of me anyway and it will be time to go."

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.