Cowell 'more powerful than Blair'

Acerbic Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell has made it on to a list of the world's 100 most influential people - but Tony Blair has not.

Ten other Britons feature in the survey, published today in US magazine Time.

But while George Bush, Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Hu Jintao all made the grade, Britain's Prime Minister was 'not that powerful', said Time.

Britons fared better in the arts section. As well as Cowell, fashion designer John Galliano, author JK Rowling, reality TV producer Mark Burnett and National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner were included.

David Beckham was in the heroes and icons section, alongside marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe.