Cowell signs £20 million deal with ITV

'The X Factor'

Simon Cowell has signed a £20 million deal with ITV - the biggest pay cheque in British TV history.

The new three-year contract pays even more than the BBC pays Jonathan Ross, who made a deal to earn £18 million over four years.

ITV bosses were reportedly desperate to keep Cowell in order to ensure that more X Factor shows are made.

Cowell, whose company Syco co-produces the X Factor, admitted that he had considered axing the show.

He told The Sun, "After two and a half years of the X-Factor, I'd pondered whether we were going to carry on.

"But this series has just been so fantastic. Leona winning means, for once, the best singer in the competition won. I think there is even more we can do with the X Factor.