By Ian Johnston Published: 9:50AM BST 19 Sep 2009  Simon Cowell said the schedule could have been arranged 'in a gentlemanly way' Photo: GETTY  The BBC has moved its hit ballroom dancing show to a later time and it will now be on when X-factor begins on ITV.  Mr Cowell said it was wrong to force viewers to choose between two of the most popular programmes on television, adding that he and members of his family were “frustrated” by the change.  “It is the wrong decision for the simple reason the public don’t want it to happen,” he told the Daily Mirror.  “They are the two most popular shows on TV and the fact they go out at the same time is crazy. Everyone knows that.  “It is a question of the BBC and ITV approaching it in a gentlemanly way.  “You give the public what they want, full stop. There is no argument. They pay the licence fee, they effectively pay for the advertising on ITV, they should be in control. I hope common sense will prevail, they have only got to pick up the phone to each other.  “I have even got members of my own family who watch both shows and it is frustrating for them and for me, but I am still confident we can beat Strictly in the ratings, provided we make a better show.”  Mr Cowell, 49, also praised Susan Boyle, the Britain's Got Talent contestant, for her performance on the American version of the show last week.  "I thought her performance was staggeringly good and I felt amazingly proud of her. It hasn’t been easy for her as we all know," he said.  “It was a personal triumph and I was very very happy for her."  He said he was "really happy" with her debut album.  “I am really happy with the record and I am going to say that it will be the biggest album of the year," Mr Cowell said.  “She has a broad reach of fans so we have made an album to appeal to that.”
Simon Cowell has accused the BBC of acting in an ungentlemanly way over the    schedule clash between his show X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.