Ryan Seacrest: 'Ellen is a superstar'

Ryan Seacrest has said that the replacement of Paula Abdul with Ellen DeGeneres on the American Idol panel will change the sexual tension on the show.

The programme host told Fox News that continuing judge Simon Cowell would interact with DeGeneres differently.

Speaking at the Emmy Awards, Seacrest said: "We love Ellen, she is a superstar. She will change the sexual tension.

"Simon and Paula had a specific sort of tension, but this will be quite different."

Former show producer Nigel Lythgoe continued: "I think she'll create another style, very different from Paula. If Paula disagreed with Simon she would hit him.

"But if and when Ellen disagrees with him she's going to hit him with a tongue-lashing."

Director Bruce Gowers added: "I think there'll be a lot more fun on the show than there was before. I think we're going to get even higher ratings."