The Voice UK is back on screens on Saturday (22 August) as the 14th season of the long-running reality series gets underway on ITV1. And, if you haven’t been paying attention, there’s a little bit of change.
While Tom Jones, will.i.am, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones are all returning as mentors, there is a slight alteration to the line-up as Destiny’s Child icon Kelly Rowland is replacing LeAnn Rimes.
There’s also a sense of continuity as Emma Willis returns as host despite her newfound role as presenter of Strictly Come Dancing, and the broadcaster has expressed excitement at Rowland joining the series.
ITV
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Speaking about the new mentor, Willis said: “She’s just incredible. She’s everything you’d want from a coach. I was in awe of her! Her energy is fun and vibrant, and she’s incredibly compassionate.
“She started her career when she was very young, and has been doing what she does for a really long time. She knows how to navigate the music industry and how to look after someone.”
“The advice she gives contestants, how she nurtures them and the compassion that she has for them is all just spot on. She is a really lovely, warm woman. And she’s infectious with it,” added Willis.
The presenter, who also fronts Netflix reality series Love Is Blind: UK, also teased how the singer would interact with her fellow mentors, all of whom are desperate to be the coach with the winning contestant.
“I think every series we get more and more out of them and their dynamic,” she said. “They are most competitive during their pitches, when they’re trying to persuade a contestant to join their team over any other coaches.
“They all want to do the best pitch in the most performative way, whether that’s through song or rhyming. There’s always a battle of the pitches. But they all get on so well. Kelly has slotted in like she’s always been there.”
ITV
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The latest season also introduces a twist to the format via the Rewind function, which gives the mentors a second chance to sign up acts. In the event that none of the coaches turn their chairs following a performance, they can press a button to reverse their decision.
It’s always a good idea to bring in fresh elements to keep a format like ours evolving,” explained Willis. “Having sat in those chairs myself, I know the pressure the coaches can feel. There are times when you finish a round and regret not spinning.”
The Voice UK airs Saturdays from 22 August on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player.
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