VIRGIN TO MAKE ASTRONAUT IDOL

[Nictoe]

Virgin empire boss SIR RICHARD BRANSON is in negotiations with British television networks to launch a talent show for aspiring astronauts. The BBC and ITV have held talks about the proposed ASTRONAUT IDOL, similar to ITV's POP IDOL, which scoured the nation for wannabe pop stars. Six contestants will compete for a spot on the Virgin Galactic project, which aims to send the first commercial passengers into space in 2009. President of Virgin Galactic, WILL WHITEHORN, says filming could begin as soon as testing on the Virgin aircraft is completed in the second half of next year (07). He adds, "The show would be a cross between DR WHO, STAR TREK and THE KRYPTON FACTOR."