Five years ago when Elvis Costello filled in for an ailing David Letterman, it was obvious that Elvis had the wit and on-screen demeanour to carry his own show.

And now he has one.

It was announced yesterday that Costello will host a new talk/music series that will air on CTV in Canada, the Sundance Channel in the U.S., and Channel 4 in the U.K.

The series, which will be called Spectacle: Elvis Costello with ... will feature 13 one-hour episodes. It is being produced in conjunction with Elton John's Rocket Pictures, and John will be one of the program's executive producers.

Conceived and developed in Canada, the Canadian/British co-production will start shooting in New York City soon, for broadcast in December 2008.

The show will be a combination of one-on-one interviews, panel discussions and musical performances.

"I'm not interested in extracting some dark secret," Costello said in a statement. "I'd rather hear about a bright secret, a deep love or a curiosity that might be otherwise obscured by fame.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to talk in complete thoughts about music, movies, art or even vaudeville, then frame it with unique and illustrative performances."

Also in a statement, John said, "Elvis Costello is the foremost expert on popular music. I thought it would be sensational to use his knowledge and intelligence to explore the artistry of musicians and other fascinating people involved in making great music, as well as true music aficionados."

Costello has been a staple on the music scene, in multiple genres, since the late 1970s. In 2003, when Letterman was sidelined from his late-night CBS talk show due to a severe case of shingles, Costello ably displayed his hosting acumen as one of several celebrities who briefly filled Letterman's chair.