Cowell earns special BAFTA award

LONDON, June 1 (UPI) -- TV personality Simon Cowell is to be honored at a ceremony in London with a special BAFTA award for his outstanding development of new talent, organizers said.

The 50-year-old music executive is a judge on "Britain's Got Talent" and, until last week, held the same position on "American Idol." He is also a judge on the U.K. show "The X Factor" and is working on a U.S. version for which he will be a judge and producer.

The BBC said Cowell will be presented with his special award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts TV awards ceremony Sunday at the London Palladium.

John Willis, chair of Bafta's TV committee, said he was "delighted" to recognize "one of the most brilliant entertainment producers of our time," the BBC said.