L.A.Reid holds on to X Factor job

Music mogul Antonio 'L.A.' Reid has signed a new contract to stay on for a second season of TV talent show The X Factor, days after Simon Cowell announced Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger were not returning as judges.

Welsh host Steve Jones became the first to be dropped from the program ahead of its second season, while it was rumored singers Abdul and Scherzinger would also be axed.

The two stars, who sat on the judging panel alongside Cowell and Reid, confirmed the news of their exit last week (begs31Jan12).

Now Reid, the head of Epic Records, has become the only original judge kept on by Cowell, according to E! News. He signed his new contract on Friday (03Feb12).

It is not known who will replace the ousted judges and host, although it is speculated that Mariah Carey is being lined up as a potential new addition to the superstar line-up.