The BBC has allegedly accused Simon Cowell of "running scared" after Britain's Got Talent was moved to avoid clashing with The Voice UK.
It was announced yesterday (April 11) that Cowell's ITV programme has been pushed back half an hour to 8.30pm next Saturday (April 21), meaning that viewers will be able to watch both shows live for the first time.
The Voice has triumphed every time the two programmes have clashed and last week came out on top in the overnight ratings (excluding +1 viewers).
In response to the scheduling change, an apparent BBC insider commented to The Mirror: "Cowell tried to disrupt the launch of The Voice and failed and now he's running scared. It's great news for us and for TV viewers that there will be no overlap."
Meanwhile, an ITV source accepted that Cowell's attempts to diminish The Voice's audience had "backfired spectacularly".
"Simon and ITV boss Peter Fincham hoped to ruin the start of The Voice but the clash has backfired spectacularly," they said. "By going to a later slot they are waving the white flag.
"Cowell will not be happy and hates to be second-best. He has never moved The X Factor for Strictly Come Dancing and is used to calling the shots. This is very much a first - and a humiliating one at that."
The Syco boss tweeted a "slightly irritated congrats" to BBC One controller Danny Cohen last Sunday after The Voice's ratings victory.
The Voice UK and Britain's Got Talent will clash in the schedules again this weekend (Saturday, April 14). The Voice UK kicks off with another 80-minute episode at 7pm on BBC One, while BGT launches at 8pm on ITV1.
