Simon Cowell in Race to Get ‘Walk The Line’ on the Air Before Rival Show
NBC Reading Time: 2 minutes
Talent show mogul, Simon Cowell, is in a race to air his new show, Walk The Line. The six-part reality series will debut on ITV, and follows a musical game show format. Now, he must compete with host Vogue Williams when her show The Big Deal debuts on Virgin Media this Fall.
On Walk the Line, musical acts will take the stage to perform in front of an audience and panel of judges. The evening’s top two performers will then face a decision in their efforts to be the reigning champion. The contestants will either go home with a cash prize or “walk the line” and advance in the game. If the players stay atop the leaderboard, they will advance to the next show to battle a new set of performers. The cash prize will increase based on the contestant’s longevity in the competition.
Walk The Line Versus The Big Deal
Cowell’s Walk the Line now faces rivalry with another new show. Irish model and media personality, Vogue Williams is set to host The Big Deal. On this series, acts perform for judges before deciding to accept a buy-out, or continue to the finals to win a life changing prize pot. Very similar concepts here. Irish pop twins, Jedward took to Twitter to comment on the rivalry.
“WTF @SimonCowell is making a copycat show of our new show The Big Deal,” They joked on their social media.
Sources close to Cowell brought the facts to this accusation, pointing out that Walk The Line is a game show, not a talent show.
Interestingly, The Big Deal has the support of the Fox Network in the United States. It was filmed at Dublin’s 3Arena. Featuring music legend Boy George, X Factor alum Aston Merygold, comedian Deirdre O’Kane, and rising music star, Lyra as judges.
“If Vogue turns The Big Deal into a hit on Virgin Media this autumn, it could steal a march on Simon’s show, which is not due on ITV until winter,” reported the Irish Sun.
The creation of William’s new series comes after being snubbed to host Dancing With the Stars across the pond.
“Yeah I really wanted that job. I’ve only gone for it twice now but whatever,” the TV personality said in an interview.
Now, Cowell and Williams will go head to head to see which show takes the top spot. Following the cancellation of The X Factor, Cowell has added pressure to pick up where the success of the show’s 17-year run left off.
