Simon Cowell is launching a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style gameshow.
The 54-year-old media mogul is said to be planning a new competition which will follow a similar format to the BBC’s popular show, but will see the audience have a say in whether wannabe businessmen and women receive their dream investment.
A source close to Simon told The Sun newspaper: "This is a big new idea that one of Simon’s young team dreamed up in the US.
"How often have you watched Dragons’ Den and disagreed with the Dragons?
"This way the power won’t lie with the business bigwigs but with the audience at home.
"After all, they are the people who will hopefully be buying whatever it is these entrepreneurs come up with – the show would do the market research."
Contestants will be given just two minutes to pitch their ideas to a panel of "benefactors" before they are quizzed about their proposed products or services, but audiences will decide how much, if any, each of them should receive and at the end of each episode the person with the highest investment will receive £100,000 and a place in the final with the chance to win £1 million.
The latest idea from Simon’s Syco company will be pitched to channels including ITV in the near future.