Acknowledgement

At least one regular reader will be looking for a note of contrition from this blogger about the wisdom and value of the BBC's investment in The Voice.  Over three shows, it has risen to an average audience of 10.7m viewers, each time beating Britain's Got Talent in the overlap period. Next week the two crews separate, and it looks like Simon Cowell has blinked before Danny Cohen. However, BGT did put on viewers this week, to hit an average of 9.6m. So the impact of clear water remains to be seen.

Next week, the format of (it's all about) The Voice turns into a mock boxing ring, where some performers sing into each other's faces, like Scott Parker squaring up to Mikel, to maintain their places in the competition. The BBC would wish us to think this is a caring development of singers for the nation, not a karaoke bear-pit.

Meanwhile, after weekend leaks from Tom Bower's unauthorised biography of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams will be wondering what it was that placed them on a judging panel with the charming media mogul.