Why Gordon Brown is an American idol

It may have been a little stilted, but Gordon Brown's appearance on US television on Wednesday night, a week before he travels to Texas to see President Bush, could hardly have gone better. Watched by 20m Americans, the Prime Minister appeared on a special charity edition of the US talent show American Idol along with such celebs as Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon and Mariah Carey. Which is more than can be said for his fellow politicians Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain - all of whom were eliminated as if they were hapless contestants.

Like Brown, all three presidential hopefuls had made taped appeals for Idol Gives Back. But the star-studded telethon went on too long and producers deemed the senators' contributions surplus. Their videos have been held over for Thursday's episode.

Brown has made no secret of the fact that he is a fan of TV talent shows. But it's possible he made the grade not for his, ahem, star quality but for his contribution of 20m mosquito nets to protect people in Africa from malaria, which kills an estimated 3,000 children a day. He urged other countries to match Britain's pledge, saying: "All year on Idol, it's the talent of the American people we admire. But tonight, it's your generosity." He signed off in presidential style with: "Thank you and God bless you all."