14 DAY TRIAL // When she was first contacted by Fox and Simon Fuller to do a one-time appearance as a judge on American Idol, Victoria Beckham said it was like a dream come true, but that she did not plan to replace Paula Abdul or to become a permanent fixture on the show. Yet, the former Spice Girl has just accepted a $5-million paycheck from AI to guest-star in more shows, until producers get the feel of how the public is warming up to her, News of the World claims.
According to sources from within the network, producers want to see how the American public welcomes Victoria before asking her to sign a contract with them and become a permanent judge on AI. Their biggest fear at this moment is that audiences in the US might perceive Posh as too thin for them to be able to relate to her, and too uptight because of her thick English accent, which, they say, makes it hard for them to understand her.
“American Idol is the highest rated show and they don’t want to pick a judge viewers don’t take to. Focus groups are going to be set up to judge Victoria’s performance. There’s some concern about whether viewers will think she’s too skinny. They’re also worried about her accent. She’s started to talk in a very posh voice and some people might struggle with that.” an unnamed source tells the British tab of how things stand at the moment with Fox fighting to find a suitable replacement for Paula Abdul, the longtime judge who walked out on the show a short while back over money issues.
Moreover, the tipster says, while other celebrities have also been already asked to do a guest appearance at the tapings of the auditions (like Katy Perry and Mary J. Blige), all signs point to Victoria being the favorite in the long-run race, even if, so far, she’s been vocal about pursuing her own path. Posh’s biggest advantage at this point, the tipster adds, is having managed to win over Simon Cowell and show creator Simon Fuller, who is also the man behind the incredible success of the Spice Girls.
“Victoria is the clear favorite because of Simon Fuller’s influence... She was a revelation at the second audition and is now top of the list to permanently replace Paula. The producers and judges loved her and she loved being part of the show.” the insider goes on to explain for the same media outlet.