[Smithy]

Alesha Dixon has confirmed the launch date for the next series of Britain's Got Talent.

As previously predicted, the latest edition of the ITV talent show will begin on the same day as its new BBC rival The Voice has been tipped to debut.


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> 'Britain's Got Talent' versus 'The Voice': Which are you more excited about?

Speaking on Daybreak today (March 8), Dixon said that she was having an "incredible" time on the contest, which is also judged by Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and David Walliams.

"It's incredible, it's good fun," she declared. "It's going to be on March 24, so it's coming soon."

Dixon also confirmed that the auditions stage is now complete, adding: "We have our final 45. It's very exciting, you will be happy. I'm very happy."

Britain's Got Talent has traditionally launched in mid-April, prompting accusations from BBC insiders that it has been deliberately brought forward to clash with The Voice.

"This is typical of ITV, parking their tanks on our lawn just as we launch a major new format," a source at the corporation said this week. "They are smarting because they didn't get the show, although they bid £10 million more than us."

Cowell admitted to Digital Spy at the beginning of Britain's Got Talent auditions in January that he recognised The Voice as a threat.

"The BBC must be confident because they have put it up against this show," he said. "They want to make a competition out of it. So we've got to make [Britain's Got Talent] better. Everyone benefits because of that."

Dixon's announcement of Britain's Got Talent's launch date comes hours after the BBC released a behind-the-scenes clip of The Voice.

Wonder if there'll be any clash between the two