BBC schedulers have decided to move 'Strictly Come Dancing' to an earlier timeslot, reducing the show's overlap with 'The X Factor' on Saturday nights.
From October 31, the BBC One ballroom contest will clash with its ITV rival for just 45 minutes, The Sun reports.
The weekly episode is expected to kick off at 6.50pm and end at 8.45pm, while 'The X Factor' will begin at 8pm as usual.
The news comes days after reports that 'Strictly's ratings were causing concern at the corporation. On Tuesday, an insider was quoted as saying that the programme's battle with 'The X Factor' was not doing it "any good".
'Strictly' has so far lost out in each of its weekly clashes with Simon Cowell's singing competition. The most recent round saw 'The X Factor' attracting 3 million more viewers than the BBC's dance offering.
A BBC spokesman denied suggestions that the programme's new slot has anything to do with 'The X Factor'. The representative said that schedulers are merely making way for a new show by impressionist Jon Culshaw.
