Saturday September 19, 2009

Simon Cowell is waging a war against the BBC.

The millionaire music mogul is furious the corporation has shifted Strictly Come Dancing (UK equivalent of Dancing With The Stars) to a later slot so it clashes with his ITV talent show X Factor.

“It is the wrong decision for the simple reason the public don’t want it to happen,” Cowell seethed to Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper.

“They are the two most popular shows on TV and the fact they go out at the same time is crazy. Everyone knows that.”

BBC chiefs moved tonight’s Strictly to 7.25pm, meaning it will be on air at the same time as X Factor, which starts at 8pm, for 65 minutes.

“It is a question of the BBC and ITV approaching it in a gentlemanly way,” Simon says. “You give the public what they want, full stop. There is no argument. They pay the license fee, they effectively pay for the advertising on ITV, they should be in control.

“I hope common sense will prevail, they have only got to pick up the phone to each other.

“I have even got members of my own family who watch both shows and it is frustrating for them and for me.

“But I am still confident we can beat Strictly in the ratings, provided we make a better show.”

Cowell, 49, also said he has given his word to ITV that he will re-sign a new contract with them when his current one ends later this year.

“Everything has just been organized with ITV to make Britain’s Got Talent next year and so that goes into production now,” he said.

“We are talking day-to-day about things and I wouldn’t work for anyone else.

“They gave me my break and I would never leave them.

“I have given them my word, contract or no contract.”

Tags: simon cowell