She was the first winner of American Idol, before it became a defining juggernaut of a decade's pop culture; it's hard to imagine now, but when Clarkson first auditioned, the fate of the show – let alone its contestants – was an unknown.
He is understood to have been offered another deal to carry on posing the questions to contestants facing him in the infamous black chair.
Someone else will be faking a feud with Sharon Osbourne, or comparing black contestants to Lenny Henry, or just grinning inanely into space like some sort of bussed-in competition winner.
Burgeoning stars like RaeLynn, Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery all got their start on The Voice under Shelton's mentoring, and The Voice has learned how to generate the same heartland appeal that Idol once understood in how it presents its contestants to the public.
Unsuccessful contestants are then forced to exit by attempting to lift the notoriously tricksy, rust-riddled garage door, while successful candidates are allowed to exit using the side door and taken directly on to the O2 Arena stage where they'll perform again in front of thousands of hysterical fans.
Like a pimped-up Bargain Hunt or Cash in the Attic with attitude, Storage Hunters UK is chiefly memorable for its presenter Sean Kelly's idiosyncratic auctioneering style and contestants charmless enough to make the wannabes on The Apprentice look like people you'd want to spend time with.
In one new hybrid show on Channel Seven the dual genres of food and renovation will collide in Kitchen Revolution: a reality format which will screen every week night until the restaurants built by the contestants are ready for the viewers to visit and eat the cooked by the reality stars.
Miss Colita contestants willingly sign up for the segment – but also have to cope with Don Francisco's constant ogling and groping.
Sitting on the floor, she starts soft and small on her cover of Summertime, showing an understanding of dynamics that seems to pass by most other big-voiced TV talent show contestants.
2015 – it is proving such a chaotic unknown, with so many contestants.
Perhaps instead of the MacGuffin of the recording contract, which always seems to end up being terminated within six months anyway, X Factor contestants could simply compete for the chance to present or judge the show next year?
