'The Voice's scheduling shows how desperate the BBC are': Why Britain's Got Talent will reignite Saturday night ratings war

'The Voice's scheduling shows how desperate the BBC are': Why Britain's Got Talent will reignite Saturday night ratings war

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A Saturday night ratings war between BBC and ITV has been reignited â€" with The Voice and Britain's Got Talent clashing head-on from April 13.

The Voice will start at an earlier time of 6.45pm on BBC1 with ITV screening episode one of Simon Cowell's BGT at 7pm, meaning the shows will overlap for 75 minutes.

Viewers will have to decide which show to watch and ultimately only one of them can win the ratings battle.

And a war of words broke out just minutes after the schedules were announced this afternoon.

One confident sounding ITV source said: “I think you can safely say our scheduling of BGT has sent some chairs spinning over at the BBC.

“But the fact is they could have shown their series any time since January and we have screened BGT at this time of year since 2006. We want a slot when all the family can watch our show.

“The fact they are going 15 minutes earlier than us shows how desperate they are.”

Beeb: "This is disappointing news for viewers and this clash could have been avoided by ITV"

 

However, BBC bosses are miffed as last year the shows managed to avoid any major overlaps, with BGT starting around 8pm.

Originally The Voice was due to start at 7pm but when final schedules were released today, the BBC moved 15 minutes earlier, meaning Doctor Who will start at 6pm.

A BBC insider said: “This is disappointing news for viewers and this clash could have been avoided by ITV. I am getting a sense of deja vu, last year ITV caused a clash by bringing the series forward a few weeks, this time they are scheduling the show earlier.

“It is TV viewers at home who lose out and this could easily be avoided. Many people will want to watch both shows so it makes no sense.”