AMERICAN chat show host Oprah Winfrey has begun her new drive for ratings - by handing every member of her 276-strong audience a free car.

The star, who is now starting her 19th season of the Oprah Winfrey Show, called 11 men and women on to the stage and handed them each the keys to a Pontiac G6.

She then delighted the audience by handing out small boxes to them all, saying one of them had the keys to another car. In fact, they all contained keys.

The 50-year-old said: "Everybody gets a car." It is thought the prize cost the billionairess £3 million.

The Oprah Winfrey Show was launched in 1986 and can be seen in 109 countries, including Britain.