Who is the better Pop Idol?

World Idol is a two-part special which will also feature the United States' winner Kelly Clarkson and 10 others.

The show's creator Simon Fuller said: "When I dreamt up the idea of Pop Idol, I always saw it as a global concept."

The show is expected to be broadcast in December and could feature notorious judge Simon Cowell.

Fuller added: "The last two years have been fantastic and it is incredibly satisfying to see a British TV idea being so successful on a global stage."

The other countries taking part are South Africa, Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, the Middle East, Belgium, Canada and Australia.

Greatest singer

The Pop Idol format has been sold to more than 20 countries.

World Idol is expected to be shown on ITV but will also be broadcast internationally with the viewers in each country choosing their winner.

Meanwhile, the firm behind Who Wants To Be A Millionaire has announced a rival programme which will search for the greatest singer in the world.

The World's Greatest Singer will bring 24 singers together and unlike Pop Idol, there is no upper age limit or restriction in musical style.

"We are keen to reflect the diversity of music from around the world, not necessarily just pop," said a spokeswoman for Celador.

She added: "So it could be the singer of a local Caribbean song or someone from Spain singing a Spanish cultural song.

"This will bring together people from all over the world."