The 9 0'Clock News – Thu 25 Jun

Posted by heatworld on Thursday 25 Jun 2009

Filed under: Big Brother, Cheryl Cole, Davina McCall, Robbie Williams, Simon Cowell, The X Factor

Simon Cowell to quit The X Factor?!
Simon Cowell is going to hang up his judging shoes after this series of The X Factor, it was reported today. The TV megastar is joining forces with Topshop boss Phillip Green and launching a billion-pound TV and entertainment empire. Simon's £20million ITV contract ends in December, and he's hinted to pals that this series of The X Factor will be his last. "He has found X Factor increasingly draining," explained a friend. "Now he's decided this will be his last series and he's moving on." ITV bosses, however, are said to be worried that without Simon The X Factor won't attract such a vast audience. It is also being reported that Simon wants Cheryl Cole to take over from him as the leading force of the judging panel. How do you feel about the idea of The X Factor without Simon Cowell? It's almost as daunting as The Apprentice without Sir Alan, don't you think?

Police quiz Robbie after armed robbery
Robbie Williams is to be questioned by police after two photographers he had an argument with were robbed at gunpoint. The ex-Take That star was holidaying in the Bahamas with his girlfriend and had just rolled a large cigarette when he noticed the two snappers. A row quickly broke out between his group and the two men, and just hours later the photographers were robbed at gunpoint. Now the police are trying to establish if the robbers were aware of the earlier altercation involving Robbie, and will be speaking to him and members of his party. Three men have already been arrested and police have confirmed that Robbie is NOT a suspect in the case.

Suicide scare at X Factor auditions
It's no wonder Simon Cowell finds The X Factor "draining". Yesterday there was drama at the auditions after a woman threatened suicide after getting a "no" from the judges. An emergency doctor had to be called as the woman – thought to be in her 50s – began hysterically sobbing and screaming. "She ran off shouting that she was going to commit suicide," says one witness. "An hour and a half later the producers were still making sure she was OK." The woman spent the night with her family before seeing the doctor again, and he reportedly said he was "satisfied" that she felt better.

Davina's had enough of BB haters
Davina McCall admitted last night that the criticism of this year's Big Brother is really getting to her. The show has always divided opinions, but this year is getting a particularly large amount of stick – mostly from people who aren't even watching it. Davina pleads, "If you are, for some unknown reason, not enjoying BB, please don't tell me. It's really harshing my mellow!" No, we don't know what "harshing my mellow" means either. Davina told Jonathan Ross just last week that she thinks people are just "snobby" about the show, and that she's fed up of all the abuse. Are you guilty of harshing Davina's mellow, or are you a bigger BB fan than even Brian Belo?