Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing set to go head to head in Autumn ratings battle

Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing are set for an Autumn ratings battle as both shows are set to air on the same weekend.  

The ITV talent search show will air its live semi-finals in September following a delay because of COVID-19 however this coincides with Strictly’s launch show. 

A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: ‘Both are hugely popular and this will split the audience if they are on at the same time. Both the Strictly launch show and the first proper dancing episode both air in September.

Tense: Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing are set for an Autumn ratings battle as both shows are set to air on the same weekend (Amanda Holden, pictured in May last year)

‘But that’s when Simon Cowell and the BGT producers are planning on airing the semi-finals now they have their line-up locked in.

‘They could try and air the semi-finals across a full week, but the final episode will likely clash with Strictly.’ 

They also reiterated that this clash is due to coronavirus messing with the TV schedule. 

BGT judge Amanda Holden has previously said she and her fellow judges, Simon, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon have been given an Autumn date for filming to resume.

Conflict: The ITV talent search show will air its live semi-finals in September following a delay because of COVID-19 however this coincides with Strictly's launch show (Katya and Neil Jones, pictured last year)

Conflict: The ITV talent search show will air its live semi-finals in September following a delay because of COVID-19 however this coincides with Strictly’s launch show (Katya and Neil Jones, pictured last year)

However, that will depend on what social distancing guidelines are still in place as the show will not go ahead without a live audience.

She explained: ‘All of the main judges have been given a date to hold in early autumn to see if it works live.

‘But we would never do it without an audience because we’ve always said the British public is the fifth judge.

Head to head: A source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: 'Both are hugely popular and this will split the audience if they are on at the same time. Both the 'Strictly' launch show and the first proper dancing episode both air in September'

Head to head: A source told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: ‘Both are hugely popular and this will split the audience if they are on at the same time. Both the ‘Strictly’ launch show and the first proper dancing episode both air in September’ 

‘So we can’t do it without them – it would be no fun without them! We’ll see what happens, but we are planning to do it this year.’

Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing bosses reportedly discussed filming the next series in a hotel so the cast and crew could self-isolate together amid the coronavirus crisis.

According to The Sun, producers are said to have considered hiring out a hotel in its entirety with a ballroom space to reduce risk among the contestants and the crew.

However, the move could have worried the partners of the celebrity contestants who would be staying in the same hotel as their dance partners after the show has had several stars starting relationships with their dancers.

They continued: ''But that's when Simon Cowell and the 'BGT' producers are planning on airing the semi-finals now they have their line-up locked in' (AJ Pritchard and Saffron Barker, pictured in January)

They continued: ”But that’s when Simon Cowell and the ‘BGT’ producers are planning on airing the semi-finals now they have their line-up locked in’ (AJ Pritchard and Saffron Barker, pictured in January)

A source told the publication: ‘Strictly is the jewel in the crown, so they’re doing everything in their power to make sure it will go ahead as seamlessly as possible. 

‘Early in the stages of the COVID-19 crisis it was seriously discussed as an option to hire an entire hotel, and to have the cast and crew all live, train and film in the same place.  

‘It was mooted as a potential plan because it meant that if one of those involved in the show did start to develop symptoms, there would be no risk to the public in any way and they could easily self-isolate.’

They'll be back: BGT judge Amanda Holden has previously said she and her fellow judges, Simon, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon have been given an Autumn date for filming to resume

They’ll be back: BGT judge Amanda Holden has previously said she and her fellow judges, Simon, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon have been given an Autumn date for filming to resume

One hotel the production considered was the London Hilton on Park Lane, which has one of the largest ballrooms in the capital.

However, now BBC bosses are hopeful that the show will be able to go ahead as originally planned at Elstree Studios.

The source added that the crew are hoping further lockdown easing will mean not too much will have to be changed to the show’s production and it is hoped the BBC will have more news in the coming weeks.

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Strictly Come Dancing for comment.

Making plans: Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing bosses reportedly discussed filming the next series in a hotel so the cast and crew could self-isolate together amid the coronavirus crisis (Luba Mushtuk, Dianne Buswell and Karen Hauer pictured in January)

Making plans: Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing bosses reportedly discussed filming the next series in a hotel so the cast and crew could self-isolate together amid the coronavirus crisis (Luba Mushtuk, Dianne Buswell and Karen Hauer pictured in January)