The hosts of American Idol. Paula Abdul, on the right, has recently quit the show.

Brown appears on American Idol

Brown appears on American Idol

by politics.co.uk staff

The prime minister has made an appearance on the American version of Pop Idol.

In a pre-recorded video for a charity special of the show, Gordon Brown told the programme’s 30 million viewers: “All year on Idol, it’s the talent of the American people we admire. But tonight, it’s your generosity.”

Mr Brown, who used to holiday in America every year, and is an avowed admirer of British talent TV shows, ended by saying: “Thank you and God bless you all.”

He promised to buy 20 million mosquito nets for malaria-hit countries, an effort praised by Peter Chernin, chairman of Malaria No More.

“I applaud the United Kingdom’s commitment to provide bed nets to Africans at risk of malaria and salute Gordon Brown’s bold leadership in the fight against this treatable and preventable disease,” he said.

Malaria kills an estimated 3,000 children a day.