Can Gary Barlow’s new talent show Let it Shine outsing ITV’s shiny new version of The Voice when they go head to head?
WITH the New Year comes a new telly dilemma . . . which primetime talent show should we watch on Saturdays?
Tonight marks the biggest TV battle since Strictly and The X Factor went head to head before Christmas, as The Voice makes its debut on ITV.
It will take on the BBC’s all-new Let It Shine, in which Gary Barlow searches for five lads to star in a touring musical based on his former group Take That.
Over on ITV, chair-spinning crooning contest The Voice returns for a sixth series – its first since ITV poached the format from the BBC for close to £50million.
Both shows promise shiny floors, slick production and family-friendly action . . . but which will come out on top?
Here, LUCY JONES runs the rule over the ratings heavyweights.
The Judges
THE VOICE
ITV has retained Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am – who has featured on every series since the show began in the UK – while Sir Tom Jones returns after being replaced last year by Boy George.
They join Jennifer Hudson, who is a huge star in the US but boasts just one British top ten single.
Sir Paul McCartney, Gary Barlow, Jess Glynne, Kylie Minogue and Professor Green all rejected judging roles, so Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale – Daisy Lowe’s dad and Gwen Stefani’s ex – completes the line-up. It is fair to say he wasn’t the producers’ first choice.
LET IT SHINE
Gary, as head judge, is a gift for watching mums. His role will infuriate Simon Cowell, who has a long-running feud with the star going back to Gary’s time on The X Factor.
He is joined by Dannii Minogue, also formerly of The X Factor. She sat alongside Cowell from 2007 to 2010.
Spandau Ballet star and ex-EastEnder Martin Kemp completes the regular line-up, with Glee’s Amber Riley and pop veteran Lulu in guest judging roles.
- It is close on this front. Dannii and Gary have loads of experience after their stints on The X Factor.
Amber is temporary, while Martin fluffs his lines in episode one and seems a bit of a fish out of water.
Sir Tom and Will.i.am are safe pairs of hands on The Voice, while Jennifer, though a relative unknown on these shores, is a revelation. Gavin, on the other hand, wouldn’t say boo to a goose.
The Hosts
THE VOICE
ITV opted to stick with BBC host Emma Willis – a much-loved presenter who also has experience hosting Celebrity Big Brother.
But Marvin Humes of JLS fame, who hosted the show alongside Emma during series three to five, has been axed by the new station bosses.
LET IT SHINE
No big gambles here. The BBC has played safe and gone with two of its most popular presenters in Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc.
Graham certainly knows his way around the format, having hosted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatrical talent shows How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? and three follow-up programmes that also searched for potential stage stars.
His new role on Let It Shine means Graham is set to pocket more than £2.5million from the BBC this year.
The broadcaster will be hoping that Mel can bring across some of the 14million viewers who tuned into The Great British Bake Off, which Mel hosted with Sue Perkins before its big-money switch to Channel 4.
- Emma is one of the best hosts in the business. But you can’t look past Graham and Mel, two of TV’s most sought-after stars. And after all, two heads are better than one . . .
When does The Voice return, what time does it start and who are the judges?
What time is Let It Shine on BBC1, who are the judges and how is Gary Barlow involved?
The Prize
THE VOICE
Leanne Mitchell, Andrea Begley, Jermain Jackman, Stevie McCrorie, Kevin Simm . . . all won The Voice but none had much of a pop career.
Polydor Records – the label behind Will.i.am’s Black Eyed Peas – will give this year’s winner a deal in a bid to break the jinx.
LET IT SHINE
No cash or record deals here. The winners will earn gruelling – but potentially rewarding – stints on Gary’s new musical The Band. It will play eight times a week throughout the year across the country.
- Will this be the year winning The Voice becomes a prize not a curse? No previous winner has gone on to stardom, while Let It Shine’s five eventual champs should have it made in the West End for life.
The Format
THE VOICE
In “blind” auditions, coaches face away from the hopefuls and hit a buzzer if they approve. Next come knockout rounds and live shows. Viewer interest has waned when the judges start facing forward.
LET IT SHINE
After auditions, hopefuls perform in groups with star guests and joust for viewer votes.
- Neither show breaks the mould. Let It Shine is an Andrew Lloyd Webber throwback, while The Voice is largely as it was on the Beeb.
The Novelty Factor
THE VOICE
The famous red chairs return – but this time some of them don’t spin. In a new, ahem, “twist”, the judges’ chairs won’t turn around at the end of an audition unless they press their buzzer.
That means they won’t have to exchange forced niceties with flop contestants, who must trudge off the stage without one iota of feedback.
LET IT SHINE
A flashy path of lights dubbed “The Starway” will reveal the fate of each contestant. Each hopeful will stand on a star.
If the star lights up, the hopeful is through to the next round.
- There is nothing new about The Voice, so the nod goes to Let It Shine with its glitzy stage and Starway.
The Talent
THE VOICE
RAC worker Jason Jones gives The Voice its “Paul Potts moment” with his take on Zayn Malik’s Pillow Talk.
Quirky singer Truly Scrumptious, named after a character from classic kids’ film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, impresses with her performance of Stereophonics’ Dakota.
Look out too for Diamond as she takes on Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You.
And after Liberty X’s Kevin Simm won last year’s contest, bosses have again turned to experience. South Wales outfit Into The Ark, comprising Taylor Jones and Dane Lloyd, have already been snapped up by Paolo Nutini’s management.
LET IT SHINE
Despite his squeaky speaking voice, Northern Irish student Deaglan Arthurs impresses with his powerful performance of Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York.
Though the show aims to unearth new talent, Jason Brock has performed on the West End in Thriller Live.
Jazzie Mattis will win fans with his take on Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk, while Essex lad Nick Carsberg makes judge Dannii blush in his audition.
- From the word go, The Voice sets the bar high. And while the vocals are not always as strong in Let It Shine, it is looking for the full package.Both shows have done their homework in picking out promising contestants.