Lythgoe: 'US 'Idol' contestants are better'

American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe has claimed that contestants on the reality contest are superior to those in the UK.

Lythgoe said he thinks the size of the UK and the fact that US contestants are able to enter at 16 gives America the edge.

The producer said: "Each year I am surprised and gratified that the talent just keeps coming [to American Idol]. We’re a much smaller country in the UK and there is a smaller talent pool.

"Here it is topped up every year because you’re allowed to come at 16, and the sort of David Archuletas and the Alexandrea Lushingtons that have just joined us now, well they were nine when we started here, and ten.

"Now they’ve watched this show all the way through their little lives and finally come on it."

Lythgoe, who was dubbed 'Nasty Nigel' when he judged the first series of Popstars in the UK, thinks it takes more effort to bring a higher standard of contestant onto the British talent shows.

"In the UK we really had to go out there and find it and put notices out there all the time to [say] please come, we’re auditioning. You kept your fingers crossed," he said.

"It was the same people auditioning for Popstars as it was auditioning for Pop Idol as it was auditioning for Grease is the Word, or whatever other show was on. It was just the same small amount of people.

"Here [in the US] it just goes on and on and that talent pool is incredible. To be frank, they’re much better singers, and I think that’s because of the church upbringing as well."