Paula Abdul confirmed by Twitter late yesterday that she is leaving American Idol, the top-rating US TV show.

Abdul, who has been a judge alongside Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson for the past eight seasons of Fox's hit show, said on her Twitter feed: "With sadness in my heart I've decided not to return to Idol."

"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day one become an international phenomenon," she continued in a string of tweets.

Abdul has been locked in negotiations with the producers of American Idol over a new contract, with one report saying she had rejected a 30% pay rise in an eight figure multi-year deal.

Her contract expired at the end of the most recent season in what is reported to have been a deal worth an estimated $2m (£1.18m) a year.

Fox and the show's co-producers, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, confirmed Abdul's departure in a statement, saying that they were "saddened" that she would not be returning.

Abdul's decision came a day after Fox announced that Kara DioGuardi, who was introduced as a fourth judge on American Idol last year, would return as a judge for next season.

Cowell's deal already covers the next season and he is currently negotiating a new contract in a deal reportedly worth $100m (£59m) a year.

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has already agreed to return as part of a broader three-year $45m (£26.5m) deal with Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment.

In June Abdul was offered a guest judge role on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance by producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe, who was one of the original executive producers of American Idol.

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