Elvis impersonators under threat

More than 30,000 Elvis Presley impersonators in America may be forced to quit by a New York City businessman who has bought the rights to the late icon's name and likeness in the US.

Billionaire American Idol owner Bob Sillerman paid $114m (€92.9m) for an 85% stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises and now controls everything except the King's music.

Now Sillerman plans to open a new Elvis cabaret show in Las Vegas and prevent any one else from dressing up like the star.

He tells The New York Times: "If we were going to do a show that was based on Elvis impersonators, then obviously it wouldn't make sense to have unauthorised Elvis impersonators."

In a move likely to outrage fans even further, Sillerman also plans to demolish the legendary Heartbreak Hotel opposite Presley's Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, and replace it with two 400-room hotels, restaurants, shops and an amphitheatre.