TAKING THE MIC
The Voice’s return date finally ‘revealed’ amid huge format shake-up
And a former winner speaks out about leaving the record label
THE Voice UK return date has been confirmed ahead of new series, new coaches and new format.
The singing competition will return to ITV on Saturday 31st August, with Emma Willis returning as the host.
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In just two weeks aspiring artists will take to the stage in the hope of turning one of the iconic red chairs.
The acts will be competing to win a life-changing record contract with music giants EMI, £50,000 and a trip to Universal Orlando Resort.
Superstar coaches Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am will be returning the show's twelfth series.
They will be joined by three brand new coaches.
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The international multi-platinum selling singer and Grammy Award winner LeAnn Rimes will be taking a seat in one of the coaches chairs.
British boyband royalty Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones from McFly will sit in a double chair for the first time in The Voice UK’s history.
Danny is no stranger to the show having coached on The Voice Kids for six series.
The duo said about their new job: “To be making The Voice UK history as the first ever double chair combo is going to be epic and we're both ready for the challenge.
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"And of course, we couldn't ask to be in greater company than our fellow Voice family members Emma, Will, Sir Tom and LeAnn.
"Roll on the talent."
The Masked Singer crowns Piranha its winner as they’re revealed to be massive 00s singer
Last year we revealed that Olly and Anne-Marie had been given the boot as ITV worked to give the show a fresher feel.
The 2023 winners were the singing duo Jen and Liv, who were coached by will.i.am.
Jenna, 21, who is from Whitley Bay, and Liv, 24, from County Durham wowed viewers with their energetic performance of Beyoncé's 'Break My Soul'.
Meanwhile, 5.4million viewers watched Danny’s big win on The Masked Singer as he was revealed to be piranha.
The Voice UK 2024 Judges
The Voice UK will return to ITV1 this year with three brand new coaches joining will.i.am and Sir Tom Jones and host Emma Willis on the hunt for a musical superstar.
Grammy Award winner and internationally acclaimed artist LeAnn Rimes joins the coaching line up, and making The Voice UK history, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones will fill the fourth coaching spot in a double chair.
As one half of BRIT Award winning group McFly, Tom and Danny will join forces, but in a format twist, both will have to agree in order to turn the chair. Danny is no stranger to the show having coached on The Voice Kids for six series.
LeAnn Rimes is an internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum-selling global superstar and an ASCAP award-winning singer songwriter. She has sold more than 48 million units globally and has won 2 GRAMMY® Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 2 World Music Awards, 3 Academy of Country Music Awards, 2 Country Music Association Awards, and one Dove Award. At 14, Rimes won "Best New Artist," making her the youngest solo artist to take home a GRAMMY® Award. At 15, she became the first country artist to win “Artist of the Year” at the Billboard Music Awards.
With seven UK number-one singles, seven top-ten albums (including 2023’s Power to Play), sold out arena tours and over ten million records sold worldwide, McFly are without question one of the most significant British acts of the twenty-first century. Since hitting the big time as the youngest band ever to have a debut album go straight to number one – beat The Beatles’ long-standing record – Tom, Danny, Dougie & Harry have become one of our best-loved bands, not to mention major stars in their own right.
LeAnn said: "I'm truly excited and grateful to take on the role of coach on The Voice UK’ and to be joining an epic panel of coaches. Being able to work with and nurture emerging, vibrant talent in the UK represents a new chapter of my heart felt connection with the wonderful fans I've had deep ties with for decades. I'm looking forward to offering my heart and guidance, sharing what I've learned through my own musical journey, and discovering the extraordinary talent that the UK is renowned for."
Tom and Danny said: “To be making The Voice UK history as the first ever double chair combo is going to be epic and we're both ready for the challenge. And of course, we couldn't ask to be in greater company than our fellow Voice family members Emma, will, sir Tom and LeAnn. Roll on the talent!"
The Voice UK’s youngest winner Annatoria Chitapa recently spoke out about her experience of fame after winning back in 2020.
The singer, 21, has experienced many highs and lows since being crowned the winner, and the youngest contestant to have the title in the shows’ history.
After winning the programme in 2020, the Zimbabwe-born star signed a contract with Island Records, and released her debut album Count My Blessings in May the following year.
But the rising star initially did not want to win the series.
Annatoria told The Sun: “I did not want to be tied to a contract. You always hear horror stories of artists signing less than ideal contracts after winning a show, so I didn’t want to win initially.”
The R&B star was invited back on the show to perform the lead single off the album, I Smile in 2021.
Shortly after the release of her album, it had been annouced Annatoria parted ways with her record label Island Records.
She continued: “I noticed the label and I had different plans for my career. I had a conversation with them, and they said ‘I’m sorry we weren’t able to do what you needed. Let’s just part ways.’ I was relieved and knew everything would be fine.”
Annatoria believes in spite of ongoing conversations surrounding the relevance of music TV competition shows today, there’s still a place for them today.
The vocalist said: “There’s still a place for The X Factor, or The Voice today, but you have to do the work. You have to market yourself on my social media. I created behind the scenes content which helped me draw a bigger audience. I couldn’t rely on just winning.”
Annatoria had been mentored by pop star Olly Murs, 39, making her win Olly’s second consecutive win on the show.
It would be the Pop crooner’s final win on the show as he had been axed from the series in 2023.
The former The Voice coach still mentors Annatoria.
She said: “Olly was the only coach to turn his chair for me. He guided me through the whole process and still gives me advice. I’ll receive a text from him and still say ‘I can’t believe Olly Murs just texted me!’ ”
Annatoria's focus is new music and building her social media presence with song covers and funny videos which often go viral.
The budding superstar is back with an empowering new song Packed Up, which she wrote and recorded Stateside in July 2023, to document her split from the label, and hopes for the future.
The social media star said: “It was recorded in LA. I remember the other writers would ask me how I am doing. I would say ‘ I feel like I’m getting ready to say yes to new adventures.’ ”
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She continued: “I just blurted out ‘I’m packed up, ready to get out of this city.’ It could be metaphorical. The song is a testament to what happened in my life, but also what is currently happening.”
Annatoria is looking forward to releasing an EP next month called Full Circle.
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