The Voice is leaving the BBC next year

The BBC have confirmed that The Voice will be leaving the broadcaster after its fifth series, which airs next January.

According to a BBC statement, the show has been “poached” by another channel, with all signs pointing to ITV, who own the production company behind The Voice.

“The BBC is incredibly proud of The Voice, but the fifth series which starts in January will be our last,” reads a statement by BBC acting director Mark Linsey.

“We always said we wouldn’t get into a bidding war or pay inflated prices to keep the show, and it’s testament to how the BBC has built the programme up – and established it into a mainstay of the Saturday night schedule – that another broadcaster has poached it.”

The Voice UK is back in January, with Boy George, Paloma Faith, will.i.am and Ricky Wilson keeping the seats warm until the show moves to its new home in 2017.