BBC Reject Simon Cowell's Offer To Save Top Of The Pops

Simon Cowell's offer to save the annual Top of the Pops Christmas special has been rejected by the BBC.

Cowell expressed interest after the BBC announced earlier this week that the programme would no longer feature in its winter schedule.

He said he would rather see the show move to ITV “than just sit in the dustbin”.

However, a spokesperson for the BBC told the Sun newspaper that the broadcaster “couldn'' accept Simon's offer”.

In it's place, the BBC said it will show an eight-episode series of TOTP 2, which “will feature some of the year’s key hits and possibly the Christmas No1.”

The weekly edition of Top of the Pops was decommissioned two years ago because of falling viewing figures.

TOTP Comeback

The channel's decision was widely criticised by the music industry and members of the public, for whom the programme had become a weekly ritual.

Earlier this month, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham led calls for a similar programme to be launched in order to help new bands achieve wider attention.

Speaking at In the City in Manchester, Mr Burnham said TV was “relying on safe formats” instead of driving the search for new talent.