Simon Cowell has accused the BBC of creating a "silly rivalry" as the corporation prepares itself to go into battle with the media mogul.

This Saturday (March 24) sees the launch of the new BBC TV talent show The Voice, whilst on ITV the new series of Britain's Got Talent will also premiere.

Speaking at a press conference to launch Britain's Got Talent, Cowell said that the BBC just plain don't like the fact that his other show X Factor has done so well. He said:

"When you get to the point with your shows that you mess around with the schedules and it affects the viewers when you go head to head, that to me is silly rivalry. In my opinion they don't like the fact the X Factor is successful. They have every right to compete with us and I have every right to arm ourselves so that we are in a good place to beat them."

He added: "I tell you what I am going to do. I'm going to back my talent against theirs this year."

Cowell meanwhile confirmed that nabbing former Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon for Britain's Got Talent was a way of getting back at the BBC. He added:

"The Voice was 100% intended to be a competing show to X Factor so I thought, 'Great, we'll nick Alesha'."