AMERICAN IDOL - AMERICAN IDOL GIVES BACK WITH TWO-NIGHT CHARITY PUSH

The producers and stars of US TV phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL will be giving back next month (APR07) as part of a massive charity push featuring BONO, BORAT, ANNIE LENNOX, PINK and GWEN STEFANI. In a first for the hit talent show, which has become America's most-watched programme, poverty-stricken kids in Africa and the US will benefit from a two-night charity drive. Show sponsors Coca-Cola and communications company AT+T will donate cash to charities committed to ending poverty Africa for each vote cast for wannabe stars of the current season of the programme on 24 and 25 April (07). Viewers will also be able to donate cash during the charity drive, dubbed IDOL GIVES BACK. Meanwhile, show host RYAN SEACREST and British judge SIMON COWELL have visited Africa to film an awareness video to promote the new charity initiative and show stars PAULA ABDUL and RANDY JACKSON will visit Louisiana to highlight ongoing post-Hurricane Katrina problems there. High profile anti-poverty activist Bono has yet to confirm he'll appear on the show, but he plans to play a part somehow. He says, "This is a big deal. I wouldn't underestimate the reach of this show or the impact its audience can have." Funnyman SACHA BARON COHEN will reprise his Borat character for a skit on the shows, while Stefani, Pink, Lennox and opera singer JOSH GROBAN are all expected to perform.

09/03/2007 19:52