Geordie television favourites Ant and Dec may still be in line to host the next series of Pop Idol.

Reports earlier this week claimed Will Young and Gareth Gates, the finalists from the first series, would host the hit TV show's second outing.

The claims came only a month after one of the North-East duo, Declan Donnelly, was reported to have claimed the show's producers favoured runner-up Gates, rather than winner Young.

Commenting on this week's reports, a spokeswoman for the show said: "There is absolutely no truth, whatsoever."

She added the producers had not been in talks with any potential hosts. Ant and Dec are also reportedly set to do battle with Young when their World Cup song is released on the same date as the singer's version of The Doors' Light My Fire.

A spokesman for the pair could not be contacted last night.