SIMON COWELL - SPRINGER TO PROVE AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

Music mogul SIMON COWELL has hired outrageous talk show host JERRY SPRINGER to front his hit US TV talent contest AMERICA'S GOT TALENT. Springer will replace chat show host REGIS PHILBIN as the presenter of the variety competition series when it returns to TV this summer (07). Springer, 63, was slated to host the show after becoming a fan favourite on the last series of celebrity TV talent contest DANCING WITH THE STARS. Last summer's (07) first season of America's Got Talent was won by 12-year-old singer BIANCA RYAN, who has since won a recording contract with Columbia Records.