Simon Cowell might can X Factor

Los Angeles - Simon Cowell is considering axing The X Factor next year. 

The music mogul admits he would rather "fall off the cliff" than see the ITV1 talent show get fewer viewing figures each year, and he has another programme in production to replace the series. 

He said: "I'd rather fall off the cliff on numbers than deteriorate slowly. That is like death from a thousand cuts. Now maybe that might mean with The X Factor we'd say in a year's time, 'Right, that's the end of it. Let's start something new.'

''We have got something in development which could replace it if we get to that point."

Competitive people

Simon also admits he "pinched" Alesha Dixon from BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing to be a judge on the forthcoming series of his Britain's Got Talent series to get back at the network for creating rival talent show The Voice, which will begin on Saturday, the same day as BGT. 

He added to Live magazine: "The BBC always said they are not there to compete, which is a complete load of rubbish. They are the most competitive people I've ever met. I don't dislike them for it but you've got to be honest. 

"They throw everything at Strictly for one reason only - to beat The X Factor - and they are putting The Voice on to compete with Got Talent. It was only right I did something back to them. 

"We pinched Alesha. In the grand scheme of things that's fun, that's not being ruthless. It's just evening the score.

"I think people like you more, it's more interesting than behaving in a boring way."