Simon Cowell will produce a new talent dance show for the BBC aimed at filling the void when Strictly Come Dancing is off air.

The partnership will mark the first foray into public service broadcasting for Syco, Cowell’s entertainment company responsible for flagship shows The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.

The show, to be called The Greatest Dancer, is expected to air next year and will see dancers from all genres compete in the hopes of being crowned the overall winner.

While the format might sound all-too familiar, the BBC insists that it will provide unmissable performances from ballet to jazz; hip hop to Bollywood.

A pilot filmed earlier this year starred Cheryl, the singer most recently famed for sitting alongside Cowell as a judge on the X Factor.

If confirmed for the show, it would mark a comeback to prime-time TV for the 34-year-old who left the show following its 2015 series and has since had a baby with One Direction singer Liam Payne.

Britain’s Got Talent presenter Alesha Dixon and dancer Jordan Banjo hosted the pilot, while Glee star Matthew Morrison and Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse were also on hand as mentors on the coaching panel.

Kate Phillip, the BBC's controller of entertainment commissioning, said: "With the continued success of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC is undoubtedly the home of dance. By launching The Greatest Dancer we want to give the vast array of dance talent across the UK the chance to shine.

"I can't wait to work with Syco and Thames to uncover the talent out there and let our audience critique and celebrate the nation's unsung dance heroes."

Nigel Hall, Syco Entertainment's global head of television, said: "The auditions for the pilot episode saw some of the most jaw dropping, heartfelt and moving auditions I've ever seen on a dance show.

"There are some spectacular moments and we are beyond thrilled to have secured this commission over fierce competition. We look forward to working with the BBC team on something just a little bit special."

The show will be co-produced by Thames, the entertainment arm of FremantleMediaUK, which described the format as "full of warmth and heart.”

The series will comprise eight one-hour episodes on BBC One and if broadcast at the same time as the X Factor or Britain's Got Talent would see Saturday night primetime dominated by Cowell's company.