Simon Cowell 'still excited' by X Factor amid The Voice switch rumours

Simon Cowell has no plans to pull the plug on The X Factor despite the possibility of The Voice moving to ITV.

The fifth series of The Voice will be the BBC's final one after the corporation refused to get into a bidding war to keep it - and director general Lord Hall seemed to confirm during the week the show is moving to ITV.

But Cowell said The X Factor still excites him as he goes in search of pop's newest star.

Asked if he would consider cancelling The X Factor, he told the Mail on Sunday's Event Magazine: "No. It still makes me excited. I still feel the magic of finding the next big thing.

"If I didn't feel in touch with that, I wouldn't embarrass myself, it would be death by a thousand cuts. But that excitement is still there."

Last weekend, Mark Linsey, acting director of BBC Television, said another broadcaster had ''poached'' The Voice and on Tuesday Lord Hall said he hopes ITV do a good job with it.

He told the House of Lords Communications Committee: ''I said at the time when people were saying 'What do you think of The Voice?' I think The Voice is a really, really good programme. I think we've made it, I think it's brilliant.

"I'm sad it's going, but there we are. I hope ITV, and I'm sure they will, will really sort of run with it and keep on making it a success.''

In the UK, The Voice is produced by Wall to Wall, alongside Talpa Media, the Dutch-based production company behind the format. The series was created by John de Mol.

However, ITV acquired Talpa Media in a deal worth approximately £355 million.

ITV has refused to comment on speculation that it has bought the broadcast rights and there is still no deal in place at this stage.

The X Factor, and Cowell's other show Britain's Got Talent, are back on ITV in 2016 and it is believed the broadcaster will go on to renew both from 2017.