The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have been approached to give interviews to US chat show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters.

Kate and Gerry McCann's spokesman Clarence Mitchell confirmed today that Winfrey and ABC's Walters want to interview the couple, but he denied claims that their shows are involved in a bidding war.

Madeleine, then 3, went missing on May 3 while on holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, with her family. In September, her parents were named as official suspects by Portuguese police who are investigating the case.

"We have been approached by representatives for both Oprah and Barbara," Mitchell explained. "They want an exclusive interview with Kate and Gerry. We are discussing it but it doesn't mean we are definitely doing it. Nothing has been agreed."

"There is categorically no truth to the suggestion that any sort of bidding war is currently taking place between American networks or American programmes," he said. "It is not something we would encourage.

"Gerry and Kate will not be doing any sit-down interviews whilst they remain arguidos [suspects]... nor has any money for any such interview ever been discussed in any shape or form."

A spokeswoman for Winfrey's show added: "While we've been in contact with the McCann family representatives, we are in no way involved in a bidding war. The Oprah Winfrey Show does not pay for news interviews."