Victoria Beckham on American Idol is panned by critics

Beckham, 35, appeared in the first episode of the ninth series on Tuesday, replacing singer Paula Abdul who left the show last year.

The Los Angeles Times said Beckham was "the night's saddest failure".

New York's The Village Voice said the singer-turned fashion designer "had nothing to add to the commentary".

However, Billboard's Monica Herrera, said Beckham added a "new dynamic" to the show.

"While the episode featured a somewhat predictable mix of trainwreck auditions, potential stars and tearjerker segments, Beckham's presence and behind-the-scenes news about Cowell added a new dynamic," she said.

Jennifer D'Angelo Friedman, from Fox News - the same network that the show is broadcast on, said the star "made a surprisingly sweet and likeable guest judge, once you got past wondering how a 35-year-old woman could have such skinny arms".

But some critics were not so kind. Sharyn Jackson from Village Voice said her face was "too crazy for the close-up".

She added: "I always thought a British accent made people sound smart but I guess I was wrong."