Virgin Galactic is reported to be in talks with the BBC and ITV in staging a Pop-Idol-style show for the commercial space trips it will begin in three years.

The show will feature six contestants from around the world competing for a spot on SpaceShipTwo, the design of which was unveiled this week at Wired Magazine’s NextFest forum in New York.

Virgin Galactic spaceliners will begin test flights by early 2008 in Mojave, California, and filming of the show is proposed to commence around the same time. For those not able to win a seat, a ticket for the 2.5-hour flight will cost $200,000.

Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, told The Guardian the show would be a cross between "Dr Who, Star Trek and The Krypton Factor."