Madge slams Pop Idol

Pop legend Madonna has attacked the new breed of TV talent shows.

11:47 10 November 2004

Pop legend Madonna has attacked the new breed of TV talent shows, branding American Idol and the UK version Pop Idol "bad".

Speaking on a radio show in the US, Madonna accused the shows of feeding off the public's obsession with the failure of others.

Pop Idol was a massive hit when it first graced the screens of ITV. It has made celebrities of music moguls Simon Cowell and Pete Waterman and spawned spin offs like Pop Idol: The Rivals and X-Factor.

The format also made a successful transition to the US, where American Idol pulled in massive ratings.

But this success has failed to impress the Queen of Pop.

"I don't like them," Madonna told ABC Radio. "I think people are obsessed with other people's failures or heartaches and I think it gives people a certain kind of a thrill to watch them go down."

The 46-year-old singer, who is married to British movie director Guy Ritchie, also said she felt sorry for Michelle McManus.

Michelle won the second series of Pop Idol but has since failed to forge a successful music career.

"She's a good enough singer, but come on, she's not a pop star," Madonna said.