X Factor: Simon quits as UK judge

Simon Cowell won't be returning as a weekly judge on the new series of The X Factor. There have been loads of rumours about his role because he's busy launching the show in America.
ITV said it's looking at ways for Simon to appear later on in the series - and we're told he will continue to have an "enormous presence" backstage. "We have known for some time that Simon's on-screen presence would be less this year," an ITV spokesman said. "That is something we are completely comfortable with."
There's no word yet on the other judges Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh, and Cheryl Cole - who has been rumoured to be in the running for a job on The X Factor USA.
Meanwhile, Britain's Got Talent kicked off on Saturday without Simon Cowell on the panel.
The ratings were down compared to the first episode of previous series, but Simon's due to return as a judge for the live shows.

Match the words below to their definitions

enormous / episode / in the running / kicked off / presence / role / rumours / series

number of related events or things, one following another
position or purpose that someone or something has
pieces of news that might be true or invented
very large
when someone is involved in something
having a reasonable chance of winning
started
one of the single parts into which a story is divided, especially when it is broadcast on the television or radio

True or false?

1. ITV is concerned that Cowell is not returning.
2. There is going to be series of The X Factor in America.
3. Cowell’s departure from The X Factor came as a surprise.
4. None of the other judges have confirmed that they are returning.
5. Cowell was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in the past.
6. Cheryl Cole may get a job on television in the USA.
7. Simon Cowell will not have anything more to do with The X Factor.
8. The X Factor appears on ITV.

What is the missing word?

1. He's busy __________ the show in America.
2. That is something we are completely __________ with.
3. Britain's Got Talent kicked off on Saturday without Simon Cowell on the ____________ .
4. The __________ were down compared to the first episode of previous series.




KEY

Vocabulary
series number of related events or things, one following another
role position or purpose that someone or something has
rumours pieces of news that might be true or invented
enormous very large
presence when someone is involved in something
in the running having a reasonable chance of winning
kicked off started
episode one of the single parts into which a story is divided, especially when it is broadcast on the television or radio

True or false?

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. True
7. False
8. True

What is the missing word?

1. He's busy launching the show in America.
2. That is something we are completely comfortable with.
3. Britain's Got Talent kicked off on Saturday without Simon Cowell on the panel.
4. The ratings were down compared to the first episode of previous series.