Simon Cowell to revive Blind Date

The classic ITV game show Blind Date is set to make a comeback, courtesy of Simon Cowell, according to the papers.

The Sun reports that Cowell has bought a share to the rights of the show - which went off the air in 2003 after presenter Cilla Black quit.

And new ITV1 boss Peter Fincham is reportedly about to give the greenlight to the new version of the show - which will be on screens in 2009 if all goes according to plan.

The Sun also reports that ITV chiefs are currently looking for a new presenter for the show - with a host of British TV talent on the shortlist.

"Blind Date is an incredible show," a source told the paper. "We’ve got a lot of new ideas — this could be the biggest show of next year."

"It would have all the elements of Blind Date plus the best bits of Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor."

Cilla Black presented the show - which was one of the centrepieces of ITV's Saturday night line-up - for 18 years before she quit live on air in 2003.

Her announcement shocked ITV bosses at the time, since she had not even told them that she planned to leave.