American Idol Executive Producer Per Blankens will not be coming back for the 15th and final season of the show. The former Swedish Idol producer signed on to the American version of the show just two years ago, following in the footsteps of previous Executive Producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, rumors that Per Blankens would not be returning for American Idol 2016 were “spreading among staff and crew on finale night.” His exit was confirmed by a representative from FremantleMedia, American Idol‘s production partner company.
American Idol ratings for the 2016 finale hit an all-time low according to Rickey.org, down almost 50 percent from a 2.6 rating to just a 1.7 rating for adults between 18 to 49. Only 8 million viewers watched the American Idol finale, compared to 9.61 million for Survivor on the same night, a show even older than Idol.
According to THR, the duties of Executive Producer for American Idol’s final season will be bumped over to FOX executive David Hill and FremantleMedia President of Entertainment Programming for North America Trish Kinane.