The BBC has cancelled The Voice UK, with the upcoming fifth series to be the last airing on the broadcaster.
Mark Linsey, acting director of BBC Television, said the broadcaster decided to cancel the singing competition series as it didn’t want to get into a bidding war to keep the show:
“The BBC is incredibly proud of The Voice, but the fifth [season], which starts in January will be our last. We always said we wouldn’t get into a bidding war or pay inflated prices to keep the show, and it’s testament to how the BBC has built the program up – and established it into a mainstay of the Saturday night schedule – that another broadcaster has poached it.”
That other broadcaster is tipped to be ITV, per THR:
He didn’t say which other network would air the show in Britain in the future, but commercial broadcaster ITV previously acquired the show’s producer Talpa and was considered the favorite to take over the music competition.
ITV declined to comment on Saturday. The broadcaster, which already airs The X Factor andBritain’s Got Talent, previously said it would be interested in the show if it became available. One industry source said ITV has not finalized a deal to announce.
So it’s “RIP” for The Voice UK on the BBC (which still has Series 5 to come), but stay tuned as we monitor developments on The Voice UK Series 6 at ITV…
Kim says
The Voice UK: ITV confirmed to take on singing competition for three series and a spin-off and a kids’ version of the show have also been commissioned
Following rumours that The Voice UK was no longer secure in its position on the BBC, the show has now been confirmed for three series on ITV.
As well as producing three series of The Voice UK starting in 2017, a spin-off show is confirmed for ITV2, while two series of The Voice Kids have also been confirmed.
Speaking of the acquisition, Director of Television Peter Dincham 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.”