Charles Saatchi, depicted here as a wax sculpture for the 2008 exhibit Mutate Britain in London, is among the world's most influential art collectors. (Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

Having succeeded in discovering fresh new singers, dancers and actors, reality TV is now turning its attention to the visual art world — with a new BBC series that will enlist the help of influential art collector Charles Saatchi to spot new British talent.

Former advertising mogul Saatchi will serve as a mentor to and judge of the young artist competitors in the new BBC series Saatchi's Best of British, the broadcaster has announced.

"I am looking forward to the prospect of finding undiscovered British talent," said Saatchi in a statement.

Saatchi is among the world's best-known contemporary art collectors and famed for his early patronage of now-acclaimed British artists like Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

"Anyone with a fresh creative approach should enter, because nobody knows where the next art star will emerge from," he said.

Producers will whittle the submissions down to six finalists, who must then attend an intensive art school for three months to be tutored by practicing contemporary artists. They will then exhibit their creations at an upcoming Saatchi exhibit at Russia's Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

The exhibition will eventually travel to Saatchi's gallery in west London in 2010.

Though the reclusive collector won't be shown speaking directly to the camera, it will feature him guiding the participants and sharing feedback with them as he judges their work.

Controversial form

The contest is open to U.K. residents working in a variety of contemporary art categories: from installation to performance art to digital media, producers said. Entrants must be 18 or older and not be currently represented by a gallery.

Contemporary art can sometimes be controversial because some claim "the work is incomprehensible to the untrained eye, or created purely to shock and get headlines for the artist," said the show's executive producer, Peter Dale, according to the U.K.'s Press Association.

"For viewers who are passionate about this art form, the program offers a fascinating insight behind the scenes and into the minds that create the work, what inspires it and what it means," Dale said.

"For others, it will be a journey of discovery as the series demystifies the subject and makes the art more accessible."

Saatchi's Best of British is slated for broadcast in the U.K. in the fall.

Artists can submit their work between Feb. 2 and March 29 via the website www.submityourart.com.