Search for Prop Idol is on

Nicholas Cowell, an expert in property investment rather than music, will cast his experienced eye over four couples' attempts to renovate four newly-built houses in Brighton's Vine Street in just 12 weeks. Nicholas steps into action once they have finished each room when the winner of each 'room reveal' then gets extra money to help them make their house an attractive proposition for potential buyers, ready for a live auction in September.

Nicholas, 42, says: "I loved the format of the show.

"I thought it was great fun. It had everything in it - it wasn't going to be just another boring property show or another boring game show or reality show."

After the success of his brother Simon on Pop Idol and American Idol, it is no surprise Nicholas has already been approached a number of times to recreate his brother's success in his own area of expertise.

But it has taken until now for producers to to find the right show to entice him in front of the cameras.

He said: "They gave me a DVD of the Australian version of The Block which was just fantastic. When I got it I watched it one after the other and loved it.

"The role of the property expert was a fairly minor one as far as I was concerned. It wasn't about presenting the show which I didn't want to do. So I thought, why not?"

Although Nicholas might say he and Simon are very different, the similarities between their on-screen personas are there for all to see. Dapper dress sense? Check. Effortless charisma? Check. Bitingly honest comments? Check.

Nicholas argues: "I think we're very different people in lots of ways. But obviously we are alike because we're very similar in age and we're very close. We're like proper brothers.

"We have sibling rivalry and all that but I love him. It's all part of the game isn't it? I suppose we are alike but I'm very punctual and have different likes and whatever. He's, well, he's Simon."

Like Simon, Nicholas is going to become known for his forthright comments about the contestants efforts. Already The Block has gained the nickname "Property Idol". But Nicholas plays down his and his brother's famously honest appraisals.

He says: "I've got no idea where that attitude comes from. I just think it's because we're both very confident people. And also I think if any professional is being asked to give an opinion on something they know a lot about then they'd be very upfront as well."

Did Simon give you any tips when you told him you were going on television? "Oh yeah," grins Nicholas, mischievously. "He said to wear my trousers a bit higher."

Nicholas was the youngest of four brothers and a sister who were brought up in Elstree by their estate agent father Eric and their dancer mother Julie, who lives in Ovingdean.

The entertainment world was always part of the family's lives as they lived next door to the head of film company Warner Brothers, Gerry Blatner.

The family friend would often invite the Hollywood stars who were filming at nearby Elstree Studios to glamourous parties organised at the Cowell household.

Nicholas recalls: "There would be all these people like Gregory Peck, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor over at our house.

"As kids we didn't understand who these people were, but it was the most famous people of the time so that's where the love of glamour comes from."

However, Nicholas, followed in his father's footsteps and started his career in property.

He explains: "I didn't do very well at school. I think I got three O-levels. My dad had friends in the West End of London who were very aggressive property people and persuaded them to give me the job of the office junior. That's where it started."

Now, 25 years later, Nicholas is at the top of his game. He formed his own business at 22, survived the 1991 property crash, and now runs two of London's most respected investment firms.

He says: "I love the business. Property is a rare profession in that you don't need to be qualified. Even now I borrow substantial amounts of money from the bank and I don't need to be qualified to do that, they trust my judgement."

Nicholas has made a lot of money from his expertise. He lives in a plush apartment in south London, overlooking the Thames, with his wife Katie Aylwin and their baby daughter Georgia. But he laughs loudly at the suggestion he might be richer than Simon.

"No way," he says. "We don't compare bank statements. Simon's done incredibly well so, you know."

Nicholas's move into television has seemingly caused no rivalry between the two successful brothers. In fact Nicholas says Simon welcomed the idea.

Nicholas says: "He thought it was a very good idea to do The Block. There are obvious advantages to being well-known, it does open a lot of doors for you. So I don't think it's going to do me any harm, touch wood."

Despite being so alike and following similar paths, or perhaps because of it, the brothers are very close.

Nicholas helped Simon invest his growing wealth in property after his success on Pop Idol and American Idol and he can often be spotted in the audiences of the shows, lending his brother his support.

Nicholas says: "We get on very well. We live our own lives very much but we've got mutual friends and we go out together about once a week.

"I never found it strange when he became famous. It's been a lot of fun. You can either be positive about it or go, 'Oh my God my brother's famous, isn't this a terrible thing'.

"But we've had great fun with it all. You go places and get noticed, it's great. We take the good side out of it and the negative side is people talk about you and write about you but, you know, who cares?"