Simon Cowell found fame as a Pop Idol judge

Cowell, who reduced many Pop Idol contestants to tears on the ITV1 show, said the book would take a no-holds-barred look at today's stars.

He said: "In this book, I'm going to say what I really think about certain bands and pop stars - who's got it and who hasn't - and give the advice every aspiring pop star should know."

A spokewoman for publisher Arrow said Cowell was "a hugely influential part of the pop world".

Cowell masterminded the rise of a number of big pop acts, among them the boy band Westlife.

Last month, it was confirmed the makers of Pop Idol were to take the show to the US.

Weakest Link

Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller has signed a deal with the network Fox to recreate the programme.

There were reports that the deal would make Fuller $50m (�35m) on top of the millions the UK show had already generated.

Cowell said that he had had talks with Fox about a possible reprise of his UK role.

He would follow in the footsteps of Anne Robinson, who successfully made the switch across the Atlantic when her BBC show The Weakest Link began airing on NBC.