Simon Cowell has launched his new ITV talent show – and said he wanted to find the new Cliff Richard or Dusty Springfield.

The millionaire music entrepreneur’s new show, which is being called The X Factor, will scrap upper age limits.

Inspired by the success of older artists in the charts, the Pop Idol judge has decided that anyone over the age of 16 can audition to become the next star.

The show will also see Cowell, who is famed for his put-downs, compete with two other judges – tipped to be Scary Spice Mel B and Westlife manager Louis Walsh – for the public’s vote for the winning artist.

Cowell, 44, who has signed a two-year exclusive deal with ITV, said: “This show is going to be the biggest talent search the UK has ever seen, and maybe the world has ever seen. There will be no age limits in terms of the upper range. Absolutely none at all.

“We’re not specifically looking for an 80-year-old pop star, but we have taken the age range off.”

He added: “We’re trying to create a different competition, one that we haven’t seen before, where 18-year-old artists will be competing against experienced older artists.

“Hopefully we’re going to be able to appeal to somebody over the age of 35 who keeps saying to me there aren’t any artists I like in the competition,” he said.

Credit: Ananova