TV bosses are desperately hoping for more fights on The Greatest Dancer to keep viewers glued to screens, according to a report.
The Sun claims BBC execs are concerned their new Saturday night TV attraction will flounder in the schedules up against The Voice.
And the newspaper reckons producers have pinpointed the star judges – Cheryl, 35, Oti Mabuse, 28, and Matthew Morrison, 40 – getting on too well as part of the problem.
It has also been speculated Simon Cowell’s first project with the Beeb after years producing the likes of X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent for ITV could flop because The Voice is far more established with viewers.
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An anonymous insider is quoted as telling the news outlet that the judges seemed to miss out on opportunities to clash with one another while filming.
They are reported to have said: “BBC chiefs think episode one is really strong but they are worried there’s not going to be enough drama to keep viewers hooked.
“They were expecting more clashes between the judges, particularly Cheryl and Oti, but that just didn’t happen.
“Any opportunity where an argument could have flared up, it just didn’t. Oti seemed to bite her tongue a lot.”
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It has been an inauspicious beginning for Chezza’s new telly vehicle, with an ad campaign coming under fire for showing her ‘dancing like a mum’ in commercials for the new series.
Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner has also questioned her qualifications for the TV role as he pondered her dance background.
An on set feud between Strictly pro Oti and Chez has also been rumoured – but anticipation for tonight’s debut episode is hardly at a fever pitch.
Cheryl said about the show as its launch was announced in November: “The great thing about The Greatest Dancer is that we put the power into the audience’s hands.”
The series will see the judges take three acts into four live shows – believed to start in February – who they hope to coach to victory.
– The Greatest Dancer starts tonight, Saturday January 5, at 8pm on BBC One
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