ITV talent show set to return for 14th series – with major element set reintroduced for the first time in five years
10/22/2024 07:07 AM
ALL eyes will be on the final of The Voice this week – and fans are rejoicing that it’s set to return for a new series.
Music legends will return to their swinging red chairs in the popular talent show on ITV and ITVXnext year.
This week’s final will see four acts battle it out as Sir Tom Jones, Will.i,am, LeAnn Rimes plus McFly duo Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher decide who will bag the lucrative record deal.
As for a new series, TV Zone reports that there could be a return of the live final, which will be welcome news to fans.
If true, it would be the first time in five years that the final would be live and not pre-recorded.
However, this series, some fans are not happy that the battles sequence has been axed and that semi finalists no longer have to fight for a place.
Instead, judges choose who to take through to the final.
Ava was picked by Tom and Danny, Tom chose Billy and Louie LeAnn selected Deb Ora while Will.i.am took Storry through to the final.
Sir Tom Jones said: “[Before] they’d have to battle it out, so then the strongest one would win.”
Fans have been outraged by this move:
One said: “I’m confused. Shouldn’t there be the battle round and the knockouts round before this???”
Another said: “Bring back the battles.”
Echoing the sentiment a third added:
“Bring back the battles. What's the point in sending 40 people through for 28 of them to hardly ever be seen again!”
This year’s schedule saw some changes with Ollie Murs and Anne- Marie swapped for the McFly boys and LeAnn Rimes.
Some fans are questioning whether Sir Tom Jones, 84 should retire over his decision.
The Voice UK winners
The Voice has run for 13 series and with the final on the horizon, another one is set to be crowned winner and take home a lucrative record deal from a record company We take a trip down memory lane to recall some of the show's winners.
By Donna Richardson
2023 – Jenna Cole and Olivia Irwin were buskers from the North East before they were mentored by Will.i.am and became winners of last year’s The Voice.
2022 – Antonia Edwards was a former nurse who was coached by Sir Tom Jones and signed a lucrative deal with EMI and released her single Anyone, a remake of Justin Bieber’s hit.
2021 – Craig Eddie was a call centre worker from Scotland before he joined The Voice. He had Anne Marie cheering him on to become champion and suffers from anxiety, using music as therapy. His single Don’t Waste my Time won the series. Craig won a recording contract after being crowned the winner of the show in 2021, but in 2023, decided to go his own way and release his own song Elastic Heart.
2020 – Blessing Chitapa is a Zimbabwean born singer from Dudley. She had Ollie Murs as her vocal trainer during the contest.
2019 – Molly Hocking was an actress from St Ives before she appeared on the Voice. She was spurred on by Ollie Murs to win the contest in 2019.
2018 – Ruti Olajugbagbe was taught by Sir Tom Jones. Her winning single was Dreams, a cover of the Cranberries song. After the final she released her single Chasing Cars.
2017 -Mo Adeniran, led by US singer Jennifer Hudson. Before joining the series he worked in hotels.
2016– Kevin Simm was Ricky Wilson’s second winner in a row and went on to form Liberty X but is now a vocalist for Wet, Wet, Wet.
2015 -Steve McCrorie was a former firefighter from Scotland who was coached by Ricky Wilson. His single Lost Stars reached number 6 in the UK Single charts and Number 1 in his native Scotland.
2014 – Jermain Jackman, born in Hackney, London and of Guyanese descent, was Will.i.am’s first act to win the series. In his other life he was a political activist. He was the first male to win the competition.
2013 – Andrea Begley from Pomeroy, Northern Ireland was mentored by Danny O’ Donogue. She is the niece of Irish county music singer Philomena Begley. Andrea is partially sighted due to having glaucoma which she developed aged 5.
2012 – Leanne Mitchell – the first ever winner of The Voice and was Sir Tom Jones’ ward. She released her debut solo single Run to you.
One fuming fan took to X, formerly Twitter to say: “Tom as had his days now he needs to retire them twins were terrible. Ace was amazing stunning.”
Another agreed at the decision, saying: “What a farce! Changed channels after Ace wasn't chosen. She was by far the best ! Outstanding! Wow still shocked. Won't watch any more.”
The Voice is on Saturday on ITV1, ITVX and STV at 8.30pm.
