BBC loses The Voice to rival broadcaster

(Image credit: PA WIRE)

BBC bosses have confirmed The Voice will not be returning to the public broadcaster after the fifth series airs in January.

Instead the long-running singing competition will move to an as yet unknown network, though it is heavily speculated that ITV has 'poached' the show.

In a statement, Mark Linsey, acting director of BBC Television, said: 'The BBC is incredibly proud of 'The Voice' but the fifth series which starts in January will be our last.

'We always said we wouldn't get into a bidding war or pay inflated prices to keep the show, and it's a testament to how the BBC has built the programme up - and established it into a mainstay of the Saturday night schedule - that another broadcaster has poached it.'

The final judging line-up for the The Voice on BBC1 will be Will.i.am, Ricky Wilson, Paloma Faith and Boy George.

According to The Times, ITV will air a revamped version of The Voice some time in 2017 - what that means for its struggling talent series The X Factor remains to be seen. The commercial broadcaster originally lost out on a bidding war for the show four years ago.