Let It Shine draws first blood in talent show ratings war with The Voice as 400k more viewers tune in
GARY Barlow drew first blood in the new Saturday night ratings battle.
His show Let It Shine had a peak 6.8million viewers — 400,000 more than its ITV rival The Voice.
And in a double blow for The Voice, its ratings lag behind the 7.12million it got last series while still on the BBC.
The two shows overlapped on the schedules, with The Voice starting in the last 25 minutes of Let It Shine.
But Barlow, who is seeking a new boyband for a Take That musical, played down the rivalry after Voice coach Will.i.am had called his show the “warm-up act”.
He said: “It’s the same with Strictly and The X Factor, the clever audience member watches both.”
“I love both shows and I’m not missing it for anybody. If you’re out there and you’re watching TV then watch both and make your own mind up. They are very different”
His victorious BBC1 show, which aims to create a boyband, sees Gary joined on the judging panel by singer Dannii Minogue, 45, Glee star Amber Riley, 30, and Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp, 55.
The winning group will star in a musical based on Take That’s hits, with the series’ proceedings overseen by new hosting duo Graham Norton, 53, and Mel Giedroyc, 48.
The Voice, now in its sixth UK series, welcomed fresh coaches in the form of Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, 51, and US superstar Jennifer Hudson, 35.
The Oscar-winner sits alongside returning coach Sir Tom Jones, 76, whom the BBC had booted off in favour of Boy George, 55, ahead of last year’s series.
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Long-serving coach Will.i.am, 41, remains the only constant across all six series, while Emma Willis, 40, returns for her fourth year as host.
This year’s champion will secure a recording contract with Polydor records.
OK BUT CHEESY
LET It Shine has all the ingredients of a hit.
TV favourites Gary Barlow and Martin Kemp are on the panel along with talent show veteran Dannii Minogue. It also has top BBC stars Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc at the helm. But the format was too jazz hands and the Starway feature a bit cheesy. If the shows continue to clash, I’ll watch ITV. ★★★★
LOOKS LIKE A GROWER
THE show looks bolder, brighter and like it could actually produce a star.
The panel have great chemistry and Jennifer Hudson is a revelation. It’s great to have Sir Tom back and Will.i.am is funny, but Gavin Rossdale will have to come out of his shell more. The Voice lost the first ratings battle, but if the rest of the series is as good it’ll win the war. ★★★★★