Simon Cowell returns as a Pop Idol judge

ITV1 bosses have revealed that they will show an hour-long documentary about previous Pop Idol contestants, One Year on, at 6.15pm - 15 minutes before Fame Academy starts.

The two talent shows, which each run for one hour, will then overlap by 15 minutes, with Fame Academy being screened at 6.30pm while Pop Idol will start at 7.15pm.

The two shows both rely on viewers to choose who they want to become a pop star, and there has been concern that they might be screened at the same time.

Fame Academy switched to Saturday nights

The BBC moved the show from its original Friday night slot, saying there was room for both Fame Academy and Pop Idol on the same night.

Fame Academy II began on 26 July as the first crop of wannabes sang in the hope of getting a place inside the performing arts school.

It drew an average of 4.9 million viewers for the two live shows, with the second being screened from 8.15pm to 8.35pm.

The second round of auditions on Wednesday saw audiences slump to 3.2 million.

There are two more heats before the students move into the north London mansion where they will be groomed for pop fame.

Giant advertising billboards featuring Simon Cowell are being erected to herald his return as a straight-talking Pop Idol judge, following his massive rise to stardom in both the UK and US.