Kara DioGuardi leaves American Idol panel

DioGuardi, who has written for singers including Kylie Minogue, said being on the explain was "an amazing experience".

Simon Cowell quit the programme in May to converge on a US version of UK presentation The X Factor while comedienne Ellen DeGeneres left in July.

Jennifer Lopez and Areosmith's Steven Tyler have been linked with unoccupied positions on the panel.

"I felt like I won the lottery when I joined American Idol two years ago but I feel like now is the best time to leave," DioGuardi said in a statement.

Of the original judges, only record producer Randy Jackson remains.

It is not clear whether the next season of the display will have a panel of three or four judges.

May's finale was the lowest rated since the first series in 2002 with 24.2m tuning in to see former paint salesman Lee DeWyze take the crown.

But the programme remains the most-watched TV play in the US.