Simon Cowell takes The Lead to ITV

British commercial broadcaster ITV is developing Take The Lead, a canine themed variety, from Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment.

The show is expected to air as a one-off Christmas special and is described as Strictly Come Dancing for dogs.

Judges will include popstar Alesha Dixon and Britain’s Got Talent star Ashleigh Butler.

Simon Cowell told TBI that when Syco launches an entertainment format, it considers three criteria. He said: “Number one, is it going to work as a successful show, number two, is it going to travel across the world and thirdly is there an ancillary business in addition to the show?”