Cowell Keen To Take TOTP To ITV

X Factor judge Simon Cowell claims he would be interested in buying the rights to the BBC’s Top of the Pops Christmas Special and airing it on ITV.

Speaking at the National Television Awards last night, Cowell said he “would rather it came to us than just sit in the dustbin”.

His comments came just days after the BBC announced that it wouldn’t be showing the Top of the Pops Christmas show this year, but would instead be featuring eight special episodes of TOTP2.

However, Cowell said: “If the BBC wanted to do a deal, and I can get ITV to buy it and broadcast it, I’d put it on ITV.”

A number of people, including The Ting Tings and culture secretary Andy Burnham, have called for the show’s return after it was decommissioned in 2006 following 42 years on air.

Cowell said: “It’s been a good year for music and I think it’s part of the tradition. It’s not as though people aren’t interested in music at the moment.”

“Maybe we could make it a bit more interesting,” he added.

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