When The Voice UK moved from the BBC to ITV this year, which is also home to Simon Cowell’s The X Factor UK, one would assume the rivalry between the two shows would be lessened. Not so, apparently. According to reports, songs by Jennifer Hudson have been banned from X Factor due to the American Idol alum’s affiliation with the rival show. Via The Sun:
Things are now so tense between the warring shows that Simon has banned hopefuls from singing “And I Am Telling You” — one of the best-known songs by Voice coach Jennifer Hudson.
At an X Factor audition in Manchester this week he stopped one girl part way through her version of it, telling her it was “too heavily linked to another show”.
A source said: “X Factor and The Voice may both be on ITV now, but Simon still wants to be the best show and there’s real rivalry there.
“This one girl tried to sing “And I Am Telling You,” which Jennifer sang in Dreamgirls, but Simon stopped her immediately and told her to sing something else. “He did let her try another three tracks so it’s not like he shot her down there and then.”
Oh my. That’s rather petty and insecure of Simon, isn’t it?
Jennifer was the winning coach on ITV’s first season of The Voice UK back in January. The singer is also set to coach the upcoming season of The Voice in the US>
In other X Factor UK news: For the second time in a week, producers had to call on Alesha Dixon to take over for an ailing judge. Sharon Osbourne had to pull out due to an ailing back.
An X Factor spokeswoman said Tuesday night: “Unfortunately Sharon is suffering from niggling back problems following surgery earlier in the year and will be unable to take part in the Edinburgh auditions. Alesha will be guest judging.”
Alesha also sat in for for Nicole Scherzinger earlier in the week. She was double-booked for a Black Eyed Peas gig in Azerbaijan.
