Simon Cowell has been meeting with Paula Abdul to discuss the possibility of bringing his former American Idol colleague on as a judge for his next television endeavour, an American version of his hit UK show, The X Factor, according to a report from TMZ.

Cowell himself recently said he adores Paula, and "Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity, because I miss her," the New York Daily News adds.

Paula worked alongside Simon on American Idol for eight seasons before leaving in a dispute over her salary for the show.

Meanwhile, Abdul’s Idol replacement, Ellen DeGeneres said, "He announced he's leaving on my first day. I'm trying not to take it personally," she says on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. "But seriously, I am going to be very, very sad to see him go, because I think he's made the show what it is. I wish him all the luck in the world hosting The Tonight Show," she added.