ITV planning to ‘steal’ talent show The Voice from rival BBC

Commenting on a report in the Sun that ITV is set to add The Voice to its schedule, an ITV spokesman said: “We are not going to indulge in speculation – the BBC has a contract for The Voice into 2016”.

The Beebs are now facing their biggest threat yet, under culture secretary John Whittingdale, who plans to slash the corporations funding immensely – and with an £11million price tag hanging over the singing contest if they want it again, it’s more than likely The Voice will find a new home.

A source told the newspaper: “If ITV got “The Voice” it would be a huge coup and send shockwaves through the TV world”.

“But a deal is becoming more and more realistic by the day”.

The Dutch company that invented The Voice was bought by ITV earlier this year.

Commenting on the suggestion that ITV is set to add The Voice to its schedule, an ITV spokesman said: “We are not going to indulge in speculation – the BBC has a contract for The Voice into 2016”.

Cowell recently persuaded Ora to jump ship to XF for its upcoming series – starting next month – after just one year as a coach on The Voice.

The Sun’s TV Biz states that BBC executives are “under pressure” to axe the show, given that it costs millions to stage every year, and of course, unlike ITV, the BBC has no commercial sponsorship and are ultimately answerable to licence fee payers about how their cash is spent.

Dancing On Ice – the show in which Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean taught celebrities to ice dance – came to an end past year. ITV would dominate Saturday night TV.

This was not the first time Cowell poached talent from his BBC rivals, notably taking Alesha Dixon from Strictly Come Dancing to Britain’s Got Talent, and he has also gone to the BBC for Grimshaw.

The firm had wanted to launch it in the UK earlier this year and even held auditions – but ended up changing its mind after the American version tanked in the ratings.