Looks like it’s another case of Pop Stars: The Rivals…
Former besties Simon Cowell and Get Weird group Little Mix are set to go up against each other with their talent shows, Talk TV can reveal.
Sources say ITV show The X Factor is being lined up to go out in early 2021, rather than its
usual autumn slot.
And Little Mix’s The Search, on BBC – originally slated for this month but postponed due to coronavirus – could be screened in the first few months of next year.
A source says: “There’s no love lost between Simon and Little Mix after they parted ways under not so rosy circumstances. As things stand, they look highly likely to come face-to-face in a telly battle.”
Music mogul Simon, 60, put the band together on The X Factor in 2011 after Jade Thirlwall, 27, Perrie Edwards, 26, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 28, and Jesy Nelson, 28, auditioned as solo singers.
They went on to sign to Simon’s label Syco, on which they released four albums, but grew frustrated at their treatment.
A row between Simon and the group’s managements saw the band move to rival label RCA.
Simon insists he came up with the idea for The Search and claimed to have been “approached by Little Mix’s management” to co-produce it.
Last year, as he tried to revive the failing X Factor format with celebrity and band versions, Simon spoke out about “what really happened”.
He said: “I told them the problem was we have a conflict of interest because we were launching The X Factor: The Band.
“We were told their show was going to launch in 2021, then we had the fallout and find out Little Mix were bringing their show forward.
“Was that intentional because we are doing our show? I have no idea.”
ITV announced The X Factor would be taking a break in 2020 after viewing figures slumped.
Auditions for the 2021 series are expected to take place later this year.
Last month, Talk TV revealed how BBC reality show The Greatest Dancer faced the chop – but The Search is now likely to fill the gap.
Looks like another showdown ahead. I’ll definitely be tuning in.
