DeGeneres: "I hope Paula is okay with it"

Ellen DeGeneres has expressed her hope that Paula Abdul is "okay" with her being hired on American Idol.

Earlier today, the talkshow host was announced as the permanent replacement for Abdul, who left the show in August.

DeGeneres will begin her judging duties alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi after the audition process for the forthcoming ninth season is completed. The comedienne revealed that she plans to be the "compassionate" panellist on the popular singing competition, E! reports.

"I'm gonna have fun with it. The one thing you know about me is I'm very honest. But I think you can be honest in a pretty kind way," she told show presenter Ryan Seacrest on his radio programme.

"I hope to be that compassionate person, 'cause that's the one thing Paula did bring - that compassion and that empathy."

She added: "I hope Paula is okay with it. I don't want anybody to think that I took Paula's job away.

"First of all, I love music, period. I've always loved music. And I'm a huge fan of the show; I haven't missed a show since season one. I'm just a fan like everyone else.

"The people are the ones who choose the American Idol. It doesn't come down to a music expert ultimately."

It was reported earlier that DeGeneres said that she was proud of season eight runner-up Adam Lambert for coming out publicly.