X-Factor Creator Simon Cowell to Be a Judge on Israeli Version

TV personality will be a judge on the fourth season of the Israeli version of the highly popular television talent show.

By Yakir Benzion, United With Israel

The creator of the highly popular television talent show America’s Got Talent, Simon Cowell, is coming to Israel to be a guest judge on the fourth season of the Israeli version another of his creations, The X-Factor, which looks for talented new singers and puts them on prime time TV.

The Israeli rights to The X-Factor are owned by Reshet, which broadcasts on Israel’s Channel 13 and Cowell will be headlining the show that last aired in Israel in January 2018. the entertainment news website Variety reported.

Cowell created the original version of The X-Factor in the U.K., building on that success with his other highly popular TV talent shows: Britain’s Got Talent, American Idol, The X-Factor U.S. and America’s Got Talent.

Versions of Cowell’s shows are produced in over 50 countries, but this is the first time the celebrity judge will be on one of the programs outside of the U.K. and U.S.

“Over the years we have discovered incredible talents from around the world through the ‘X-Factor’ format,” Cowell told Variety. “I can barely wait to see what the Israelis have to offer.”

Reshet called Cowell’s agreement to appear “a huge achievement for Israeli TV,” and he will also help pick the other judges who will be with him on the show.

“Cowell is one of the biggest and most influential music figures in the world, and his participation as a judge in the Israeli format provides an opportunity for international exposure for Israeli singers,” said Reshet, adding that filming is expected to begin within a few months.

The third season of The X-Factor Israel was hosted by supermodel Bar Refaeli and completed in January 2018 with up-and-coming Ethiopian-Israeli singer Eden Alene winning the contest.

Born in Jerusalem and currently serving in the IDF, Alene was chosen last year to represent Israel at the Eurovision 2020 Song Contest competition that was scheduled to take place in May in the Netherlands. It was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.