The Voice returns in style as Jennifer Hudson and Olly Murs perform in jaw-dropping collaboration

THE Voice returned in spectacular fashion tonight as Jennifer Hudson, Tom Jones, Will.i.am and newbie Olly Murs opened the show with the Nina Simone classic Feeling Good.

Oscar winner Jennifer, kicked off the the classic a capella, her powerful voice sounded flawless before being joined by the backing band and her co-stars.

All eyes were on Olly as he descended from the studio ceiling with plenty of the cheeky charm he's famous for.

Tom belted out his trademark vocals, while Will put his own spin on the track.

Viewers loved it, writing on Twitter: "I really love J Hud and I really love @ollyofficial #thevoice.

"Watching the voice and WOW Jennifer Hudson's SLAYING IT.

"Seriously @RealSirTomJones is a ledge and @IAMJHUD has some pipes on her! #TheVoice.

"Absolutely loving #TheVoice back on @ITV @IAMJHUD sounding & looking Amazing great to see @ollyofficial on the panel #essex on the map with the great #tomjones & the fabulous @iamwill 💖💙💙💙🎤🎼🎹🎺🎷🎸."

"@ollyofficial brings a new level to #TheVoiceUK great to see his humour mixing well with the voice royalty. This is shaping up to be an epic series. 😃"

The first act of the new series, hunky carpenter Jake Benson, 26, secured a place on Jennifer's team with his version of Julia Michaels' Issues.

Chloe Jones, 22, became the first member of team Tom, impressing with Corinne Bailey Rae's Just Like A Star.

Lauren Bannon,27, secured the services of coach Olly with her cover of Major Lazer's Lean On. Will was so taken with her vocals that he said he'd offer her support even if she didn't pick him.

Niall Donnelly, 36, was the first act to receive a no, failing to land a coach with Green Day's Good Riddance. He was met backstage by his son Daniel, who told him it was the taking part that counted.

Jimmy Balito, 22, also didn't get anyone turning for him. His falsetto vocals on Tom Odell's Concrete weren't enough for him to progress.

Jason Nicholson-Porter, 33, sang Amazing Grace and his gospel-tinged vocals took JHud to church, becoming her second team member.

Will revealed at the show launch earlier this week why he thought no one from previous shows had become megastars.

He said: "I've tried to keep in contact with people who were on my team and they're really polite 'I don't want to bug you, I know you're busy.' If I was them I wouldn't be. I'd be like 'yo whatssup. I just called you two minutes ago.' I would not be as polite as they are. Part of the reason I feel that maybe there's no star is because maybe people are just too polite.

"Folks that have careers have been really aggressive with their careers. They make sure they fight for the right songs. You know in your heart as a singer if you're song is not gonna get you where you wanna go. To be that you've got to be a predator and predator's aren't polite. You have to be aggressive about getting your dream.

"I give them my number and my email and the thing that I notice with all of them is that they're really polite. 'Ii know you're busy,' and that's what they do. Here's my contact, here's my email, call me. Guess what's gonna happen? They're not gonna call."

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220