MUMBAI: Simon Cowell is going from strength to strength. The acerbic judge of American Idol has signed a £20 million-a-year deal with UK broadcaster ITV to continue hosting the music based reality show The X Factor.

Cowell will host the show for three years. He says, "After two and a half years of The X Factor, I'd pondered whether we were going to carry on. But this series has been fantastic... I think there is even more we can do with The X Factor. I couldn't be happier."

Media reports add that Cowell will also produce and star in a series of prime-time ventures. His company, Syco Tv, has finalised an extended five-year deal to appear on American Idol.

Cowell also stipulates in his contract that his record company, Sony BMG, is allowed to release records by the winning contestants.