Madeleine went missing from a resort in the Algarve on 3 May

Clarence Mitchell said both Oprah Winfrey and ABC star Barbara Walters wanted to interview the McCanns.

But he ruled out any interviews while Kate and Gerry McCann remained suspects in the disappearance of their daughter.

Madeleine, then aged three, went missing from the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on 3 May.

'Bidding war'

Mr Mitchell has rejected allegations that the two shows are in a bidding war for an exclusive interview with the couple.

He said: "There is categorically no truth to the suggestion that any sort of bidding war is currently taking place between American networks or American programmes.

"It [a bidding war] is not something we would encourage.

While we've been in contact with the McCann family representatives, we are in no way involved in a bidding war Oprah Winfrey Show producers

"Gerry and Kate will not be doing any sit-down interviews whilst they remain arguidos [suspects]... nor has any money for any such interview ever been discussed in any shape or form."

A spokeswoman for Harpo Productions, which produces the Oprah Winfrey Show, said: "While we've been in contact with the McCann family representatives, we are in no way involved in a bidding war.

"The Oprah Winfrey Show does not pay for news interviews."

Earlier this month, Kate and Gerry McCann denied suggestions they were planning a movie about Madeleine's disappearance.

At the time, Gerry McCann said they were approached by a "huge number of media outlets regarding a myriad of projects" of which they only agreed to a "tiny proportion".

However, he did confirm there had been a "preliminary discussion" with a production company about a documentary on the issues the family had faced since the disappearance of their daughter.