Simon Cowell has revealed that he thinks rival show The Voice has effectively turned into a clone of his show the X Factor.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Cowell said that he thought to truly live up to the show's ethos of putting the voice first then it might have been better off on the radio.

As such, he feels that as the contestant's identities were revealed, the programme has turned into an X Factor rip off, with "dancers, graphics and lights" behind the performances. He said:

"That show puzzles me because it starts off and 'it's all about the voice'. So my first thought is, 'Why isn't this on radio?' because what's the point in looking at them. Then suddenly I'm watching it a week or two weeks ago and it's the same as The X Factor. They've got dancers behind them, graphics, lights. Same show."

A smug Cowell concluded: "When The Voice came along it was like, 'Roll your sleeves up, we're in for a bit of a punch-up'. I'm smiling now."