ITV has confirmed that reality series Popstars will be back for a third series, Broadcast reports this week.

The show, originally from Australia, was first broadcast in the UK in 2000, creating the now parted pop Hear'Say.  A twist to the format was introduced for the second series in 2002 - two 'rival' groups were created, one all-boy and the other all-girl.  The male group, One True Voice, split months after the show finished but Girls Aloud have gone on to enjoy continued success.

The new run will get a new twist: this time round, the show will look to create the UK's next musical male-female duet.

Called Popstars: Boy Meets Girl, the programme is expected to be given a Saturday night slot for its thirteen-week run.

No judges or presenters have yet to be confirmed; nor indeed has a start date - although with Simon Cowell's new pop reality show The X Factor headlining on ITV this autumn, Popstars could well be kept back until Spring 2005.