A children’s version of hit singing competition The Voice will be coming to ITV.
The network confirmed that it has struck a three-year deal to air The Voice and its new offspring, The Voice Kids, after four years on the BBC.
After refusing to enter into a “bidding war”, the BBC announced in early November that the fifth series, airing in January 2016, would be its last.
ITV struck the deal with Talpa Media, the Dutch-based production company behind the format, which it acquired in March this year for approximately £355 million.
The deal will see The Voice air for three seasons on the broadcaster’s main channel from 2017, with a spin-off running alongside it on ITV2.
ITV has also signed up for two series of the children’s adaptation of the show.
There are already 30 versions of The Voice Kids globally, including in Australia where Mel B, Delta Goodrem, and rockers Joel and Benji Madden have been coaches, but this is the first time it has been commissioned for the UK market.
Picking up a popular singing competition of course leaves questions about ITV’s other talent show, The X Factor, which nabbed Rita Ora from the BBC show.
But Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV, hinted that The Voice might not mean the end for The X Factor.
He said: “ITV is the natural home of big entertainment so we are thrilled that The Voice and The Voice Kids are both joining our family alongside brilliant shows like The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!”
An ITV spokeswoman added: “There is room in the schedule for all these great shows.”
The upcoming series of The Voice on the BBC welcomes new judges Boy George and Paloma Faith alongside Will.i.am and Ricky Wilson.
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