Plans for Chinese Ugly Betty show

America Ferrera's character in the US series wears garish clothes and has a brace

A Chinese TV station has said it plans to make a Chinese version of the hit series Ugly Betty.

Invincible Ugly Woman, as it will be called in China, will be made and screened on Hunan Satellite TV.

The station said it was planning 400 episodes of the show over five seasons, with shooting to start next month.

Ugly Betty, about an ordinary woman who tries to fit in at a fashion magazine, has been a major ratings success in the US.

Hunan Satellite TV said that a woman with no prior acting experience had been cast as the female lead, while the lead male had not been decided.

The station is best-known for the success of its Super Girls talent show - the Chinese version of American Idol.

Ugly Betty was inspired by the Colombian telenovela, a Latin American soap drama, Yo Soy Betty, La Fea, which translates as I Am Betty, the Ugly One.

It was adapted to an American setting by former Oscar nominee Salma Hayek.

Actress America Ferrera became an overnight sensation in the leading role when it first aired in 2006 and went on to win a Golden Globe for best TV comedy actress in 2007.