READ THE TURNS & CONDITIONS Inside TV war between ITV and BBC as they desperately try to stop stars jumping ship to join Strictly and I’m A Celeb

ITV and BBC are at war over their biggest talents jumping ship to appear on Strictly and I’m A Celeb.

Deals at ITV now effectively ban stars from signing up to the rival channel’s reality juggernaut unless their situation meets super-strict criteria.

Catherine Tyldesley joined Strictly’s 2019 contest after leaving Coronation Street in 2018

Ellie Leach signed for Strictly - weeks after leaving the cobbles

Katie McGlynn foxtrotted on to Strictly’s 2021 series after leaving the ITV soap

Paperwork seen by The Sun outlines the channel’s stance on talent appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and the severe conditions the big names face.

It reads: “All television appearances will also be subject to ­consideration of ITV’s commercial interests, especially whether the show might compete against ITV’s programmes, impact on ITV’s ­ratings and therefore damage ITV’s commercial interests.

“As a general rule, we will ­support shows on ITV and ­productions from ITV Studios.

“For example, we’d say no to an artiste appearing on Strictly but are likely to support an artiste appearing on I’m A Celebrity.”

It comes after This Morning presenter Josie Gibson, 38, has been at the centre of a tussle between Britain’s two biggest ­stations — with ITV winning her for their jungle line-up.

And it explains why so many stars only appear on the BBC dancefloor after they have left their ITV shows.

Last week, we revealed Coronation Street’s Ellie Leach, 22. who played Faye Windass, has signed for Strictly — weeks after leaving the cobbles.

Fellow Corrie star ­Catherine Tyldesley, 39, signed up for Strictly’s 2019 contest after leaving the soap in 2018.

And Katie McGlynn, 30, who played Sinead Tinker on the ITV soap for seven years until 2020, foxtrotted on to Strictly in 2021.

It is understood the BBC has a similar rule in place limiting which stars can tackle ITV’s I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!

Presenters Louise Minchin and Victoria Derbyshire could sign up after quitting the Beeb, in 2021 and 2020 respectively.

EastEnders stars are also tightly controlled — with Rita Simons and Shane Richie both names who could head Down Under only after leaving the soap.

A source said: “Loyalty in TV doesn’t exist in quite the same way it used to and the golden handcuff contracts of old are few and far between.

“Reality shows are really the last battleground and channels obviously want to try to retain their viewers’ favourites for their own programme.

“We saw that last week with ITV winning over Josie Gibson.”

Another source outlined the ­criteria ITV looks at when ­considering if a star can appear on a BBC show

Considerations include their workload — which counts out most soap stars, who usually put in nine-to-five style shifts on set.

Other aspects are whether the star’s main show is considered a schedule clash or is a similar genre.

Yesterday the BBC and ITV declined to comment.

It comes after The Sun told on Friday how rising telly star Josie would face I’m A Celeb’s jungle bugs rather than Strictly’s ­jitterbugs on the BBC after a bidding war between the two.

Louise Minchin was only able to sign up to ITV's I'm A Celeb after quitting the Beeb

Shane Richie could only head Down Under after leaving the soap