Simon Lines Up Paula For 'X Factor'

Paula Abdul, who walked away from American Idol after a contract dispute last year, may be joining Simon Cowell as a judge on his new Fox series, X Factor. “I will work with her in some capacity, because I miss her,” Cowell told reporters at a news conference Monday when he announced that he is leaving  Idol in order to concentrate on the launch of his new show. Simon recently flew Paula to London and wined and dined her, introducing her to the staff of the British version of X Factor, according to reports in the British papers on Wednesday. But what really clinched the deal was Simon’s pledge that she wouldn’t have to deal with all the infighting that she hated on Idol. X Factor is set to debut in Fall 2011. Stay tuned! –MANDY COHEN in London