Doctor Who has a new arch enemy - Simon Cowell

Peter Capaldi is set to take on a new villain – in the form of Simon Cowell, when Doctor Who goes head-to-head with The X Factor.

The Time Lord will battle it out in the Saturday night TV ratings war with the ITV talent show headed by Mr Nasty himself. And The X Factor is hoping to land superstar guest performers as their secret weapon in the ratings clash.

The new series of Doctor Who starring Peter as the 12th incarnation of the Doctor begins on BBC One on Saturday August 23, while the 11th series of The X Factor, featuring the return of Simon and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini to the judging panel, starts a week later on Saturday August 30.

Simon Cowell and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini are back for The X Factor (Yui Mok/PA)

Doctor Who is scheduled to begin at 7.30pm and finish at 8.15pm, while the X Factor airs at 8pm – forcing fans to choose between the two shows.

This weekend the new series of Doctor Who starts at 7.50pm and had it still been in that time slot then both shows would have completely clashed.

A BBC source told The Daily Mirror: “It’s a shame ITV and Cowell couldn’t go a bit later but we know Peter Capaldi is a brilliant Doctor and we are sure lots of viewers will love him.

Peter Capaldi is making his debut as the Doctor (BBC)

“If Peter can see off the Daleks then hopefully he can see off Cowell too.”

All the channels discuss listings every Friday, with several drafts of the schedule drawn up until the final one is approved on a Wednesday afternoon.

An ITV insider told the newspaper that originally both shows were set to air at around 7.45pm meaning they would have completely overlapped.

Can Clara and the Doctor tempt viewers away from The X Factor? (BBC)

The source added: “We have done everything we can to minimise the overlap and worked with the BBC. The X Factor show is 85 minutes long so we can’t put it out too late.”

Meanwhile, The Daily Star reports X Factor is hoping to tempt Adele back to the show as one of its star guest performers in a bid to lure in viewers.

The Skyfall singer has previously confessed she is a big fan of the show and even considered auditioning.

Adele could feature on this year’s X Factor (Ian West/PA)

A source told the paper: “Adele has never forgotten how the X Factor was responsible for her cover of Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love becoming a smash four years ago.

“She watches the show religiously.

“Producers are well aware she doesn’t need the promotion. Her third album is a guaranteed success. Normally pop stars enjoy a huge boost after appearing on the show, but the X Factor would be the real winners.

“She would probably give the show its highest ratings. The gig is hers if she wants it, and she seems very keen.”