Murdoch oversees new Sunday tabloid (From News Shopper)

Murdoch oversees new Sunday tabloid

8:48pm Saturday 25th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has been personally overseeing the final stages of production of his new title The Sun on Sunday.

The media tycoon arrived at printers in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, to witness the new Sunday tabloid roll off the press for the first time.

The 80-year-old has already expressed his hopes that the newspaper will emulate the success of its defunct predecessor the News of the World.

Mr Murdoch thanked staff at The Sun, who were only told that their newspaper would be rolled out seven days a week, on Monday.

He tweeted: "New Sunday edition nearly ready. Fantastic achievement by great staff. Many thanks."

Bosses at News International have recruited a clutch of celebrity columnists including Katie Price and Nancy Dell'Olio for its latest title, while the Archbishop of York and chef Heston Blumenthal will also have weekly slots.

News International announced the birth of a Sunday edition of the biggest selling UK daily newspaper on Monday and it has since completely sold out of advertising space.

There has been been much conjecture about the editorial style of the new Sunday paper, with many media commentators suggesting it will be more family-friendly and less salacious than the News of the World.

Bosses said that former glamour model Price will write a weekly column, saying she will "give readers her opinions on everything from family life to feminism, from school issues to showbiz gossip". Meanwhile, Italian personality Dell'Olio will have a style column, Dr John Sentamu will have a Sunday Service column and celebrity chef Blumenthal will offer weekly cooking tips. Sun editor Dominic Mohan is understood to be meeting Mr Murdoch at the press production site where it is expected that three million copies of the newspaper will be printed. More than 500 street sellers will be selling newspapers around the country.