Simon Cowell is to launch a global talent search online allowing people to show off remarkable skills - with video auditions on YouTube. The X Factor boss's company Syco is teaming up with the site to enable people to show off talents which may not be recognised by traditional TV shows, such as make-up artists or doing trick shots
The You Generation contest - expected to launch in late March - will continue for at least a year and will seek out a different skill each fortnight with each vying for an "amazing prize". An overall winner after the first 52 weeks will be given a further reward.
The contest will extend across 26 territories, taking in the UK and Ireland, the US, Russia and much of south east Asia, with entries made simply by uploading a video, and all competing together.
Cowell has been keen to harness the power of YouTube after seeing how popular performances of his shows have been on the video-sharing site.
Cowell's company said: "The channel offers people with unconventional and original talents the opportunity to have their talent recognised by the world and become the next internet star."
Announcing the launch today, Syco and YouTube called it "a new worldwide entertainment concept".
They said You Generation would be "the first global audition process", adding that people would have "the chance to show off their outstanding skills and win amazing prizes - simply by uploading a video".