[Arneldo]

BLIND Date will soon be back — with a new twist from Simon Cowell and hit producers behind Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor.

The talent contest guru, 48, has bought a share in the rights of the iconic telly dating show.

And new ITV1 boss Peter Fincham is rumoured to be about to give the programme the green light. It has been five years since Blind Date went off our screens.

Host Cilla Black, 65 — who presented the show for 18 years — sensationally quit on air in 2003.

She stunned bosses during the first ever live Blind Date — as she had not even told them the news.

ITV chiefs are searching for talent to front the series, with a host of top Brit telly stars in the frame.

A TV source told The Sun: “Blind Date is an incredible show. We’ve got a lot of new ideas — this could be the biggest show of next year.

“It would have all the elements of Blind Date plus the best bits of Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor.

An ITV source said: “We were offered another dating show, but Peter thinks Blind Date is one of the most iconic ITV shows of all time. It’s early days, but it’s looking very hopeful.”

The Sun

[Tom]

Blind Date returning ... Alan Carr offered ITV contract? Hmm ...