THERE is a gaping hole in the television schedules the bigwigs are desperate to plug now the festive season is over.

Saturday and Sunday nights are currently a barren desert where the sparkly and sometimes wobbly vocal and dance talents of the lucky few were once showcased from September onwards.

With no money, and probably precious few social engagements on the cards, the majority of us will be taking up semi-permanent residence on our sofas for the forseeable future weekends.

We are waiting to be wowed by a new crop of exciting shows.

And by the looks of it - the powers that be are pulling out all the stops.

Still wounded by the loss of the Voice to ITV, the BBC has raised the stakes with three months’ worth of Gary Barlow, Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc.

They will spend that time searching for the star of Gary’s new musical - catchily entitled the Band - which will incorporate the music of Take That.

This will probably be worth watching just for Mel and Graham, with a bit of singing and showboating thrown in for good measure.

You probably don’t even need to like Take That. But you might need to like musical theatre.

The BBC has also introduced a junior version of the Voice - which confusingly has the same presenter in Emma Willis, and from what I can tell, at least Will.I.Am doubling up on the judging panel.

They look exactly the same but are on two different channels.

We will only be able to tell the difference when we suddenly realise we are being urged to buy a new mattress or sofa.

ITV are also getting in on the dance act by launching an attempt to jump on board the huge success of Strictly with a show featuring celebrities having a crack at dancing.

Six contestants, including TOWIE’s Jess Wright, will compete each week on Dance Dance Dance by re-creating a memorable dance video, overseen by a panel of judges headed by Essex’s very own Ashley Banjo.

It might not be Strictly but there is more than a whiff of its sparkle, right down to former winner and judge Alesha Dixon, this time on hosting duties.

All in all it promises a jollier, upbeat start to the year than watching the Mitchell sisters take a doomed dip in a hotel swimming pool.

Although I am personally relieved the writers can no longer heap any more doom on poor Ronnie.

She really seemed to get the raw deal when it came to those poor beleaguered sisters.