[Marcus.]

Simon Cowell returns to X Factor after signing £25 million deal making him the highest paid entertainer ever

Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/s...#ixzz2nm47pTzY
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

Simon Cowell will return to the UK X Factor in a deal that will make him the highest paid entertainer ever, according to reports.

The deal - which will also see him remain with Britain's Got Talent - will last for three years, apparently.

The Sun claims that the deal will only be final when Cowell is released from his contract with the US version of the singing show, though it's unlikely the US X Factor will be cancelled as despite its declining ratings, it's still a steady performer and relatively cheap to produce.

If that happens, the paper claims that Cowell will receive just half the amount due to a clause in the contract, which still works out at a healthy £4.15 million a year.

A source said: “ITV are preparing for him to return to the UK X Factor and BGT so have structured the deal to take in both shows.

“If he only does one then he won’t get the full package — but everyone is hopeful that will not be the case.”

Last month Cowell inked a deal to ensure that both shows would return to ITV until at least 2016 in a deal worth a reported £150m.

At the time the X Factor supremo said: "I am thrilled that we have extended our deal with ITV for Britain's Got Talent and the X Factor. They have been fantastic partners and we have some exciting new plans to take the shows to the next level."

The X Factor's 10th run was won by former prison officer Sam Bailey, but the final was the least watched since the first series.