Simon Cowell at an America’s Got Talent event in 2023 Simon Cowell is to miss a few weeks of his judging duties on America’s Got Talent while he recovers from back surgery. The TV mogul’s representatives confirmed to Entertainment Weekly on Monday that he would be missing from the AGT panel following the “routine” operation. “Obviously medical matters are private but it’s routine and he will be back in a few weeks,” they said. A temporary replacement for Simon – who is currently executive producing and judging AGT’s 21st season, with his fellow panellists including his former X Factor co-star Mel B, Modern Family actor Sofía Vergara and Canadian comic Howie Mandel – has not yet been announced. The record label boss’ issues with his back are well-documented, after he first broke it in an electric cycling accident at his home in the summer of 2020, which required surgery. “Simon had a fall from his bike [while] testing his new electric bike in the courtyard at his house in Malibu with his family,” his spokesperson said at the time. “He hurt his back and was taken to the hospital. He’s doing fine, he’s under observation and is in the best possible hands.” During his recovery, he missed the latter half of the 2020 season of Britain’s Got Talent, where former champion Ashley Banjo sat in for him alongside Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams, who has since parted ways with the show. He also missed that year’s America’s Got Talent live shows, with a number of guest judges filling in for him in his absence, including Saturday Night Live alum Kenan Thompson and former American Idol champion Kelly Clarkson. Last year, Simon appeared in the Netflix talent search Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which led to the formation of the boyband December 10. The seven-piece group released their first EP On Your Side last month, peaking at number five in the UK albums chart. READ MORE: Simon Cowell Claims He Was More 'Horrible' To Susan Boyle Than BGT Viewers Ever Saw Simon Cowell Responds To Those Who 'Blame' Him For Liam Payne's Death Fans Are Loving The Savage Dig At Simon Cowell On Jade Thirlwall's New Single