The BBC is hoping to find Britain’s Barack Obama after acquiring the rights to a “political idol” talent search designed to uncover a new breed of leader.

Former Cabinet ministers and political commentators will act as Simon Cowell-style judges in The Next Great Leader, a format that proved a prime-time hit in Canada.

Contestants aged between 18 and 25 in the show, which is expected to run during the next general election, must produce a video manifesto for making Britain a better, stronger and more prosperous place.

Michael Portillo is tipped to be one of the panellists in the series, which would be made by the BBC Entertainment division, which produces Strictly Come Dancing, rather than its current affairs team.

The candidates are whittled down to four with the right stuff, who take part in a live presidential-style debate. They are quizzed on economics, social policy, the environment and the moral standards voters can expect from the wannabe world leaders. Charisma and stage presence will be tested.

In the Canadian version, the candidates faced a daunting panel of four former prime ministers: Paul Martin, Brian Mulroney, Kim Campbell and Joe Clark. Last year, the ex-PMs club chose Joseph Lavoie, a politics student, who proposed a radical policy to grant Canada’s cities more financial autonomy. Mr Lavoie received a cash prize of $50,000 and the promise of a six-month internship in a leading political body, the first step on the greasy pole to power.

The BBC, which acquired an option on the format from its independent producer, Distraction, hopes the series will climax in a nationwide public vote. When the series ran on Canada’s CBC channel, it increased CBC’s market share by 20 per cent. The concept developed from an essay-writing competition in 1995.

The format would assist in the BBC’s stated intention to promote “citizenship” among young people. A BBC spokeswoman said: “We have acquired the option on the Next Great Leaderfor our in-house entertainment team to produce.”

Michel Rodrigue, chief executive of Distraction, said: “ The Next Great Leader is the best example of reality prime time programming that not only entertains, but educates viewers to the challenges our leaders are facing, and the necessity to develop the leaders of the future.”

The Pop Idol format, involving a high level of interactivity by the audience, became an international phenomenon when it was created by Simon Fuller in 2001. Its enormous appeal was demonstrated when three times as many people aged 18 to 24 voted in the final of the first Pop Idol contest as voted in the last general election.

The programme, which allows viewers to vote for their favourite singer, has been exported all over the world.

Versions have been screened as far away as Ethopia and Bangladesh.

While Pop Idol is no longer screened in Britain, the popularity of American Idol, the best known spin-off, shows no sign of abating.

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