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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Cowell wants election 'bear pit' | Cowell wants election 'bear pit' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| X Factor judge Simon Cowell has said he wants to run a series of "prime time" TV debates on key political issues ahead of the next general election. | X Factor judge Simon Cowell has said he wants to run a series of "prime time" TV debates on key political issues ahead of the next general election. |
| The music impresario told the BBC he wanted to create a "bear pit" atmosphere, with a live studio audience and viewers voting via telephone. | The music impresario told the BBC he wanted to create a "bear pit" atmosphere, with a live studio audience and viewers voting via telephone. |
| The debates could deal with subjects including capital punishment, the Afghan war and immigration, he added. | The debates could deal with subjects including capital punishment, the Afghan war and immigration, he added. |
| More than 10 million people voted for the Factor final on Sunday on ITV1. | More than 10 million people voted for the Factor final on Sunday on ITV1. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem counterpart Nick Clegg have said they are willing to take part in a US-style televised debate ahead of the next general election, which has to happen by 3 June next year. | Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem counterpart Nick Clegg have said they are willing to take part in a US-style televised debate ahead of the next general election, which has to happen by 3 June next year. |
| Red phone | Red phone |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also said he is willing in principle to take part in televised leader debates, saying he was in favour of a series of debates on specific issues. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also said he is willing in principle to take part in televised leader debates, saying he was in favour of a series of debates on specific issues. |
| However, Mr Cowell's proposal is less like a presidential-style forum and more like X Factor, which was expected to attract 20 million viewers for its final, won by Joe McElderry . | However, Mr Cowell's proposal is less like a presidential-style forum and more like X Factor, which was expected to attract 20 million viewers for its final, won by Joe McElderry . |
| I get to a point sometimes where I get overloaded Simon Cowell There's something about Simon | |
| He told BBC Two's Newsnight he wanted to put on a show where a large studio audience was divided up according to its view on an issue. | He told BBC Two's Newsnight he wanted to put on a show where a large studio audience was divided up according to its view on an issue. |
| There would, he said, be a red telephone to allow politicians to ring in to state their case. | There would, he said, be a red telephone to allow politicians to ring in to state their case. |
| Asked whether capital punishment might be included as a subject, Mr Cowell said: "Well, we could do it. We could ask the question." | Asked whether capital punishment might be included as a subject, Mr Cowell said: "Well, we could do it. We could ask the question." |
| Will Young, a winner of X Factor's predecessor Pop Idol, appeared on the BBC One political discussion show Question Time last year. | Will Young, a winner of X Factor's predecessor Pop Idol, appeared on the BBC One political discussion show Question Time last year. |
| Mr Brown faces Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg most Wednesday lunchtimes for prime minister's questions in the House of Commons. | Mr Brown faces Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg most Wednesday lunchtimes for prime minister's questions in the House of Commons. |
| But Sir George Young, the shadow leader of the Commons, has recently suggested moving it to Thursday evenings, where it could compete with the likes of Eastenders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and The Bill. | But Sir George Young, the shadow leader of the Commons, has recently suggested moving it to Thursday evenings, where it could compete with the likes of Eastenders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and The Bill. |