The star said the 23-year-old singer’s youth and passion had enabled her to take Madonna’s “crown” as the Queen of Pop.

“She's the new Madonna, I think, because she's young,” Goldfrapp told Time Out.

“Madonna's wonderful, but she's done her thing. Lady GaGa's passionate about what she does, it's extreme and really good fun.”

The singer added: “For someone so young to know what she wants to do is incredible.

“I think [her success] is to do with timing as well: we all want something to escape to."

Lady Gaga will return to the UK next month for the next leg of her Monster Ball world tour.

(by Jason Gregory)