ITV confirms fate of The Voice before this year’s series even airs
THERE have long been rumours about its future, but I can confirm The Voice UK will be back next year for its 12th series.
Before series 11 has even aired, ITV has confirmed it will return, along with its sister show, The Voice Kids.
Filming is set to begin within weeks, and speculation about its imminent axing has been stalled — for now at least.
A TV insider said: “Following ITV confirming they had given X Factor the chop, it was inevitable that many saw this as the beginning of the end for telly talent contests.
“And The Voice has now been on British screens on a Saturday night for a decade, which is a great innings for any entertainment show.
“Of course that doesn’t mean that its future is entirely secure. ITV bosses are likely to mull over viewing figures for the upcoming series before making any long-term decisions.
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“But ITV are clearly committed to it continuing in the short term.”
Producers started advertising for auditionees, including groups, to come forward for the 2023 show earlier this year.
But around the same time there were whispers that ITV execs could still pull the plug on the programme, which is hosted by Emma Willis with mentors Anne- Marie, Tom Jones, Will.I.Am and Olly Murs.
Series 11 will start next month, along with a glut of other big ITV shows including The Masked Dancer, Ninja Warrior, Celeb Lingo and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
A spokesman for ITV said: “The Voice UK and The Voice Kids will return to ITV and [new streaming platform] ITVX in 2023.”
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Bizbit
WHENEVER a show is billed a “social experiment”, you know it’s going to shock.
And C4 has a corker in the works.
Rise & Fall will pit rich against poor across 18 episodes, with contestants split into two groups – the haves and the have-nots – to explore power and corruption, and compete for a prize pot.
CELEBS SET FOR S-A-STRESS
IT’S too early for tantrums yet – but how will this parade of pampered celebs stand up to the SAS: Who Dares Wins treatment?
Instructor Jason “Foxy” Fox gave an ominous hint when he said: “This is the hardest-hit bunch of celebs to date. Fact.
“You get plenty of strength, weakness, dark times, easily some of the funniest comments/moments and huge, huge surprises.”
One of this year’s contenders, former Brookside actress Jennifer Ellison, clearly found the show a challenge.
She said: “Going on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is like labour – you go to hell and back but then you get the most incredible reward at the end which stays with you for life.”
And Strictly dancer AJ Pritchard said: “Even in the most dangerous scenarios there’s always a positive to take from it.”
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins returns to Channel 4 on September 4 at 9pm.
Bizbit
MANY people consider the Kardashian girls to be among the world’s most attractive celebrities.
Not Katherine Ryan, though, who has blasted the surgically enhanced reality clan in a new mag interview.
The Canadian comic said: “Those are supernatural bodies and they cannot be achieved biologically!”
HOPEFULS TO BEAR IT ALONE
THERE must have been some interesting insurance meetings over at Channel 4.
In one of the scariest TV concepts I’ve heard in a while, a new show called Alone will see ten hopefuls dropped into the Canadian wilderness.
And instead of being guided by a survival ace like Bear Gryllis, they really will be all alone . . . apart from maybe actual bears.
They will have basic tools and must film their own adventure for the show, which has been a huge hit overseas.
Whoever lasts longest in the British version wins £100,000.
Ian Dunkley of C4 said: “It will provide a fascinating insight into the human spirit and what it takes to survive.”
Suddenly, dealing with Ant and Dec in the jungle doesn’t sound quite so bad.
Bizbit
FINANCE ace Martin Lewis is to host a special run of programmes next month.
Martin’s Money Mondays will air as part of ITV’s GMB, as he helps to tackle the cost-of-living crisis while grilling MPs.
The MoneySavingExpert star said: “I’ve never seen anything like the cost of living crisis hitting today.”
CAMERAS HIT NEW HOTSPOT
WITH the news that Magaluf is attempting to rebrand as a less trashy family holiday destination, you have to wonder where raucous young Brits will head to party.
Enter: Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach.
And its status as the latest party hotspot will be cemented thanks to a new E4 show that will follow the local police, medical and fire services dealing with the carnage.
Commissioning editor Mel Bezalel said: “By asking local emergency workers to reveal their dealings with Brits, we’re seeing ourselves through a different lens.”
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Emergency On Sunny Beach airs next year.
Leaving plenty of time for this summer’s revellers to get over their hangovers in time to tune in . . .