Elton John replacing Simon Cowell on American Idol?

London, (ANI): Sir Elton John has been tipped as the favourite choice to replace music mogul Simon Cowell on the American Idol when he leaves to launch The X Factor in the US next year.

It has emerged that US telly moguls want John, 63, on the judging panel, as executives from US station Fox are desperate to get another big name British star because they go down well with the audience.

Former American Idol producer Nasty Nigel Lythgoe, 60, said he thinks John would be the perfect choice to give Cowell, 50, a run for his money.

“He"d be great," the Daily Star quoted Lythgoe as saying. A Hollywood source added: “Elton is funny, knows what he"s talking about and won"t suffer any fools."