After 12 seasons of relatively uncontroversial stint on "American Idol," Randy Jackson says he's ready to quit the show. The last original judge of the U.S. Fox talent show says that it's time to leave after the current season.

"Yo! Yo! Yo! To ut all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on 'American Idol' I have decided it is time to leave after this season," he said in a statement.

"I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry. It's been a life changing opportunity but I am looking forward to focusing on my company Dream Merchant 21 and other business ventures."

The 56-year-old music producer has been with the show since its first season aired in 2002. He is the only judge who has not vacated his seat yet. His fellow original judges, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, left the show after season 8 and 9 respectively.

Fans of the singing programme know Jackson as the judge who rarely loses his cool. Although he is far from being passive, he is perhaps the only judge who doesn't bring unnecessary drama to the show. His contemporaries are known to steal the spotlight from the contestants, but he seems to be content to let the younger ones shine.

And now with the dwindling ratings of the once formidable talent show, it isn't surprising that producer Nigel Lythgoe is said to be planning to get rid of all four judges - Jackson, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, and Nicki Minaj - and replace them with Pink, Diddy, and real-life couple Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber.

"It's been a lacklustre season for Idol and everyone involved with the show is well aware of it so that's why producers are franticly working on lining up big name stars for season 14," a source told RadarOnline.com.

"There's more drama going on behind the scenes of the show than on the stage, and that's why there's a major overhaul in the works."

This is not the first time rumours of Jackson leaving the show has surfaced. Before the 12th season started, it was reported that his contract was not renewed, and the show would have a new set of judges. Then it was reported that he would still be in the show, but his role would be reduced to a mentor.