It seems the gloves are off between Gary Barlow and Simon Cowell as it’s been revealed the former Take That star is set to get a prime time television show to rival The X Factor. Reports today claim that Gary is in talks with the BBC – who recently lost The Voice to ITV – about a new talent show.
“This is Gary’s own format that will be made by the BBC entertainment team,” an insider told the Mirror. “If it is a success he could make hundreds of millions of pounds around the world like Cowell has with X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.”
The source admitted the public should expect a major fallout, adding: “Cowell is going to be furious because he thinks it was X Factor that gave Gary the experience working on a show like this. Now he’s gone and set up a direct rival.”
After Gary appeared on The X Factor in 2011, while Simon was working on the US version, the pair seemed to have a falling out, with Simon later saying: “The truth is, and I am not being rude, I wouldn’t hire Gary to run my record label.”
Gary hit back at his jibe but refused to make it personal. “I don’t talk to Simon, I talk to ITV,” he said. “Once we go on telly, I don’t hear anything. I don’t need to speak to anyone during the series. I know what my job is and what I need to do.”
Expect fireworks…