Cowell: 'Abdul was the heart of Idol'

Simon Cowell has said that he was saddened by Paula Abdul's decision to quit American Idol because she was the heart of the reality talent show.

The judge told Fox News that he nevertheless supported Abdul for making her own decision to leave the programme.

Cowell said: "She's taken the decision in her life now, which you have to respect her for making the decision.

"I didn't want to get involved in what was going on because it wasn't really any of my business but I spoke to her a lot through the whole process. I always thought she was the heart of the show."

He added: "I'm not the heart, I'm not even the brain actually. But she was the heart, so you've taken that away so it's a different show. I'm sad, I am.

"I'll probably see her next week. I'm going to listen to what she wants to do next. I will support her in anything she wants to do next. I think she is TV gold, genuinely."

Abdul's manager recently rejected reports that the singer will return to American Idol.