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

The media tycoon arrived at printers in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, tonight 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.

Murdoch today 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."

Yesterday, the Australian said that he would be "very happy" if sales of his new paper exceed two million copies and enjoyed success similar to the NotW.

The penultimate issue of the title, which ceased publication at the height of the phone hacking scandal in July last year, sold about 2.7 million copies.

He said: "The Sun: great speculation, sweeps, etc on Sunday's sale. I will be very happy at anything substantially over two million!"

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 today 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.

The new paper tipped the balance in the lucrative Sunday market after announcing it would be sold for just 50p.

The cost of the title is expected to have sparked a tabloid price war and it is understood that rival titles - the Sunday Mirror, the People and the Daily Star Sunday - are to slash their price tags tomorrow.