Admittedly *pulls at collar* , there's only so many times you can consume hotel mini bars in their entirety; get ousted from Simon Cowell's birthday for being too locked; and held captive in a hotel basement until paramedics arrive to sedate your drunken self before your bosses go "Hmmmm. He might have a few issues to sort, out of the public eye."

An insider said: "This has built up for some time (over the course of four series, in fact). David has been in the papers a lot for his drunken behaviour and he doesn't seem to want to clean up his act. He was absolutely devastated at the news. The show provided the majority of his income." That's OK David, here, have a... DAMMIT.

Hasselhoff has since released this statement: "I am proud I was part of making America's Got Talent the number one rated show for the past four summers. It's been a rewarding experience and now I'm thrilled to be able to follow my dream to do my own TV show, which will be announced very shortly. I want to thank my friend Simon Cowell for four great years."

Speaking of which, Simon was keen for the public to know that, despite him being the show's executive producer, he was not responsible for Hasselhoff's contract termination, so he sent his friends to say as much to some reporters in the vicinity.

An NBC spokesperson said: "We are sad to see him go." Given he's being replaced by US Deal Or No Deal host Howie Mandel, so are we.