Music heavyweight Meat Loaf has been drafted in as a judge for the latest ITV talent show 'Pop Star to Opera Star'.

The singer – real name Michael Lee Adday – will be judging the singing talents of Blur's Alex James, former McFly singer Danny Jones, Jimmy Osmond, former Pop Idol reject Darius Campbell and four more tenuous stars.

Despite joining Katherine Jenkins and Rolando Villazon on the judging panel, Loaf took time to take a swipe at ITV's other reality shows.

He said of Dancing on Ice: "I was watching - and I dunno how - this Skating With The Stars thing. I mean, what the fuck is that? Seriously, what are these people doing? They all take it sooo seriously.

“And I was over here in a taxi and I said to the driver, 'What happened to that awful I'm A Celebrity?' He said it was still a big show, and I said, 'That is horrifying. It is just a thing for Ant and Dec to make money'.

“True story - 30 minutes later an email came and asked me to do I'm A Celebrity, but I said no. I am picky.”

Pop Star to Opera Star begins this Friday (January 15) at 9pm.

(by Scott Colothan)