THE X Factor Celebrity Final will take on Strictly Come Dancing for the first time this year in a time slot clash.
The rival shows will compete for the biggest audience on November 30th when they both start to air at 7.10pm.
In years gone by the talent programmes have enjoyed friendly competition on Saturday and often Sunday nights too.
But programme scheduling has meant ITV’s X Factor has avoided going head to head with the popular BBC dance show this year.
Strictly beat The X Factor: Celebrity in the Saturday night ratings war for its launch show.
It recorded its lowest ever ratings at just 2.95million – but X Factor insiders insisted its watched by more people on catch up.
The new series starring big celebrity names – including Megan McKenna, Vinnie Jones and The Chase’s Jenny Ryan – replaced the normal X Factor version this year.
Now Simon Cowell is launching an X Factor All Stars series next month after just a few weeks in the planning.
The move follows his former protégée girl band Little Mix’s decision to make a talent show on the BBC.
After getting wind of their plans, Simon moved his new show forward a year.
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He will premiere a show called X Factor The Band to find a new girl group and boy band. It is in direct competition to the Little Mix BBC1 prime time show The Search, which will launch early next year.
Louis Walsh and Paula Abdul, who had been signed to judge X Factor All Stars, are expected to be axed, with new judges hired.
Auditions will take place soon at Sony Music in London, with the live finals being held at Birmingham Arena in the week the country goes to the polls in December.