By Liz Thomas

Last updated at 6:09 PM on 18th June 2011

The BBC has splashed out an astonishing 22million on a reality entertainment show to take on The X Factor in the Saturday night ratings war.

BBC1 controller Danny Cohen signed a two-year deal to secure the UK rights for The Voice, which is already a success in the U.S. and Holland.

The cost to the Corporation is likely to be ramped up still further as it looks to sign up a big-name judging panel. Adele, Robbie Williams, George Michael and Cheryl Cole are among stars being touted for the role.

Cheryl Cole (left) and Adele (right) are being touted as judges for the 22m reality entertainment show, The Voice

The show has a similar format to talent shows such as The X Factor. However, at initial auditions, the judges are unable to see the acts and must base their decisions solely on the artists' vocal skills.

It focuses more on constructive criticism rather than the pantomime put-downs and rivalry for which the ITV show has become famous.

The eventual winner will get a record deal with music giant Universal.
But critics questioned why the BBC was spending such a vast sum on a derivative show at a time when it is supposed to be cutting back.

It is also questionable whether the Corporation, as a public service broadcaster, should be involved in a programme that will inevitably heavily promote Universal and its talent.

Last night the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'The BBC often justifies the licence fee by telling the public that it provides unique content. Spending millions on what viewers might consider to be a rip-off of X Factor risks making a mockery of that claim.'

Senior BBC figures revealed the deal for the show runs until 2014.

It is estimated the programme will cost 650,000 an episode to make – which is more than Strictly Come Dancing, but around half ITV's weekly bill for The X Factor. The length of the series has yet to be finalised.

BBC executives told the Daily Mail its bid was not the highest and ITV had offered more than 30million for the programme.

Mr Cohen said: 'I'm absolutely delighted that The Voice will be coming to the BBC. It's a big, exciting and warm-hearted series and will be a fantastic Saturday night event.'

The show is the brainchild of John De Mol, the man behind Big Brother, who said he chose the BBC because the broadcaster 'shared his passion' for the series, which he described as the 'new generation of the [reality] show genre'.

Sources close to Miss Cole said she was 'taking time out' after being axed from the U.S. X Factor and had not been in discussions about The Voice.

But it is understood the BBC and Mr Cohen are keen to work with the singer.


...AND TRIES TO POACH 8M O'GRADY

Paul O'Grady, 56, has been in talks with BBC1 controller Danny Cohen

Paul O'Grady, 56, has been in talks with BBC1 controller Danny Cohen

Paul O'Grady is being courted by the BBC – just 18 months after moving to ITV in an 8million deal.

The 56-year-old host of Paul O'Grady Live on Friday nights was poached by ITV from Channel 4 in 2009. But the Daily Mail has been told the star has had talks with BBC1 controller Danny Cohen.

Sources at the corporation say O'Grady could even take over from Bruce Forsyth on Strictly Come Dancing when the 83-year-old TV veteran retires.

Last night, an insider said: 'Paul and Danny got on very well, he really likes him. It is early days – but there are some ideas that are being considered.

'He has a wide fan base that covers all ages and even Lady Gaga says she's a fan, which makes him particularly interesting to the Beeb.'

His show ends its current run on July 8 and so far ITV bosses have not put a new series into the diary for the autumn.

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

So Paul O'Grady should be a judge even though and I really like him he has the worse voice I think I have ever heard and has no history of music of any kind. However Cheryl who can sing reasonably and does have a background in music and dance with Girls Aloud and her own solo hits part written by her and her ballet training shouldn't. Something a bit skewed in this logic I feel, or could it be the writers are just a little biased and unfair? I love to watch the show with Cheryl, Dannii, who has been said to be in the frame, Adele and Paul not only would it be interesting with Paul on it it would have a lighter element. I don't believe there would be any of the Cowell , all the judges would get on and it would be brilliant.

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Why on earth is the BBC even bothering trying to push yet another singing contest into an incredibly unoriginal and tired format?

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Wow! What a massive amount of money to pay, just to compete with a show that is bound to flag a little this season because of the change of judging line-up, if nothing else. I'm sure the great British public must be getting a little tired of this format by now, and believe that the BBC paying such a sum to bring another such programme to our screens is difficult to justify, especially when there is also talk of them pulling BBC3 and BBC4 in favour of the World Service because they can't afford them all. I think it's about time they had to consult their shareholders before making such decisions and spending such vast sums - i.e. you and me and anyone else who still pays for a TV licence........

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BBC PAYING MILLIONS FOR THIS REALITY TAT AND CHERYL COLE? NOT WHILE I'M PAYING YOUR DAMNED WAGES, YOU WON'T!

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- Diana, London , 18/6/2011 02:16...............shut up

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well there's a shortage of talent/reality shows on tv aren't there the only good thing about it is that having these shows rammed down our throat will result in people getting sick to death of them faster. the sooner they die the better

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