'Strictly Come Dancing' Moves Time Slots

Thursday 22nd October 2009 - 13:00:50

'Strictly Come Dancing' is changing its time slot to avoid direct competition with 'The X Factor'.

The BBC dance show has been trounced in the ratings by the ITV talent show and producers have decided to move it to an earlier slot so the overlap will now only be 45 minutes.

From October 31 'Strictly' will start at 6.50pm and end at 8.45pm, while 'The X Factor' starts at 8pm.

It looks like they're running scared.

An ITV source told The Sun: "It looks like they're running scared."

Since the shows went head to head, 'The X Factor' has won in the ratings, with an average of 10.9 million viewers, while 'Strictly' has pulled in 7.8million.

Fans of both shows were furious they had to choose and let their anger known to the BBC.

However, a spokesman for the channel denied 'Strictly' - which is hosted by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly - had been moved due to 'The X Factor', insisting it was to make way for a show by impressionist Jon Culshaw.