Two kinds of people inhabit this world. Those who take things at face value; who appreciate the efficiency and function of what they enjoy. For them, there's no point in scrutinising the marvel. As long as it works, leave it alone.
The other type of person wants to break things to see what's inside. Their appreciation comes from knowing how the thing works, not that it does work. Or, more correctly said: knowing how the thing works enhances their appreciation and enjoyment of it.
You might think this article is for the second kind of person, but it is intended for both. We won't spoil the magic, but we will dish on inside information. For readers who want a deeper dive, we:
- discover the people who make this singing competition so engaging
- explore tactics contestants use to win
- go over how The Voice UK coaching has changed through the series
- take a behind-the-scenes look at coaching duties and strategies
The Voice Judges
The Voice UK fans who have followed the series from its 2012 BBC premiere to its most recent ITV series know that will.i.am is the contest's mainstay.
An American rapper, singer, and producer, will.i.am launched his music career in 1988, while still in middle school. He and his two mates performed around Los Angeles, where their mentor, Easy E, discovered them.
Easy helped this trio hone their raw talents and taught them music industry secrets. After his untimely death, the group rebranded themselves as Black Eyed Pods (later, Peas). All while collaborating with his group, will.i.am also recorded solo albums. His solo efforts arguably brought him more renown than when he fronted the Peas.
I'm proud to be doing The Voice UK because the UK was the first place I saw success.
will.i.am
The Peas' first album, Elephunk, reached #3 on the UK Album Charts, a much better position than on the music charts in their own country. Will.i.am could read the writing on the wall. Too many people battled for fame in the United States. His chances of success ware far better on our shores than his native ones.
By contrast, Sir Tom Jones is a music industry legend on both sides of the pond. His music career is a generation ahead of will.i.am, having begun his singing professionally in the early 1960s. Like his rapping counterpart, Sir Tom is a Voice UK mainstay; he's only 'missed' one series (#5).
This pair - the crooner and the rapper, bookend The Voice UK's judging panel. A range of talent joins them in those swivelling chairs, from one series to the next. This chart lists The Voice UK judges through the years, citing their appearance dates and their reason(s) for leaving.
| Judge | Series | Why they left |
|---|---|---|
| Jessie J | 1-2 | Other work commitments |
| Danny O'Donoghue | 1-2 | Other work commitments (and being cruelly taunted) |
| Ricky Wilson | 3-5 | To pursue other projects (he'd achieved all he wanted/needed) |
| Kylie Minogue | 3 | Other work commitments |
| Rita Ora | 4 | Moved on to the X-Factor |
| Boy George | 5 | Moved to The Voice Australia |
| Paloma Faith | 5 | Starting a family |
| Jennifer Hudson | 6-8 | Other work commitments |
| Gavin Rossdale | 6 | Spend time with family |
| Olly Murs | 7-12 | Executive decision |
| Meghan Trainor | 9 | starting a family |
| Anne-Marie | 9-12 | Executive decision (to refresh the show) |
The Voice Top Contestants
So far, The Voice UK has featured nearly 160 contestants across its 12 series. A snippet for each singer would result in a novel-length article. Therefore, we must content ourselves with an overview of this iconic British talent and what's become of them, since their Voice UK win.
| Series | Coach | Artist | Where are they now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Tom Jones | Leanne Mitchell | Released one album; no success |
| 2 | Danny O'Donoghue | Andrea Begley | Continues to tour and perform around Ireland |
| 3 | will.i.am | Jermain Jackman | Involved in politics |
| 4 | Ricky Wilson | Stevie McCrorie | Returned to his firefighter position (The only Voice UK contestant to score a Top Ten single) |
| 5 | Ricky Wilson | Kevin Simm | Now singing with Wet, Wet, Wet |
| 6 | Jennifer Hudson | Mo Jamil | Recording label dropped him when his album failed to chart |
| 7 | Sir Tom Jones | Ruti Olajugbagbe | Signed two recording deals in 2021 |
| 8 | Olly Murs | Molly Hocking | Inactive in music since 2021 |
| 9 | Olly Murs | Blessing Chitapa | Still active in music, but with no new releases pending |
| 10 | Anne-Marie | Craig Eddie | No new music since 2021 |
| 11 | Sir Tom Jones | Anthonia Edwards | Working as a nurse |
| 12 | will.i.am | Jen & Liv | Now performing as Hunni; |
Many contestants also enhance their performance by taking singing lessons tailored to their needs.
Strategies for Winning Contestants on The Voice
You might already know that The Voice UK is for singers who've already cultivated their vocal talents. They've taken singing lessons, perhaps for years, and are just awaiting their big break.
The Voice contestants who do not demonstrate singing talent during the blind auditions simply do not make the cut. None of the judges will swivel their chairs, nor will they discuss those potential candidates.
The Voice contestants must first make it through the 'producer audition' round. The television audience doesn't see this part. We only meet the contestants the producers haven't rejected. Each series opens with the blind auditions. That's when the judges have their backs to the stage and a live audience fills the studio.
The blind auditions are a lot like other singing competitions. For instance, the international singing competition, Eurovision, enforces a strict three-minute limit on each contestant's stage time. That calls for singers - Voice and Eurovision, to trim their songs to fit in those constraints.
Perhaps 'trim' doesn't properly describe the process. The most successful Voice contestants arrange their songs to give them maximum flexibility. They must demonstrate their range as well as vocal power. And, they must do it better than all the other contestants.
Often, these competitors will sing one verse, and then jump into the song's chorus. Those repeat verses are where the songs' power lies. They will train and rehearse their shortened songs for weeks, ahead of the blind auditions.
They will also practise good vocal care. The most successful singers do daily voice exercises and mind their vocal health. They turn up to their auditions well-rested and confident, with a full water bottle and a supply of throat spray.
Some also attend singing lessons to further refine their technique.
While we, in the audience, clap and cry our encouragement, these singers narrow their focus to their performance. Their scant few minutes on-stage could make or break their music careers. They put all of their hope and passion into the songs they sing.
Evolution of Coaching Styles on The Voice UK
For the most part, The Voice UK's coaches signed on because of their passion and love of the vocal arts. Each one took their swivelling chair, bearing the full weight of their experiences in the music industry. Their personal journeys informed their coaching styles and decisions, at least, to an extent.
Still, this singing competition's judges span several generations of industry practices. They come from different cultures, too. For instance, Boy George and will.i.am embarked on their careers during the same musical era.
However, their paths to success and their musical styles are nearly polar opposite. The music culture in their respective countries offered Boy George a greater shot at the mainstream. By contrast, will.i.am had to fight much harder for universal acceptance in his country.
Through all of the coaching changes, the showrunners had to maintain some uniformity. When the show migrated from BBC to ITV, the new sponsors, executives, and showrunners placed their limits on the competition's judges.
The jury is out over the impact all of these evolutions have made. Dwindling audience shares seem to tell one story but the steady stream of contestants argues against it.
Behind the Scenes: Insights into The Voice UK Coaching
For many viewers, mentoring the singers is their favourite part. That's when the coaches spill industry secrets and what they experienced while making a name for themselves. These mentors don't shy away from sharing tales of heartbreak or times of trouble. Indeed, those stories form a springboard that explain the coaches' mentoring decisions.
Not all Voice coaches engage in heart-and-guidance sharing. Some stick to the mission of developing their singers from audition to win, with no detours. Often, it seems that there is no further goal. The lack of Voice UK winners' chart-topping success throughout its 12 series (to date) seems to underscore that point.
I think it’s a shame that The Voice has become so formulaic and predictable. It’s lost its magic.
Tom Jones
Fans and the judging panel were angry and disappointed with Sir Tom Jones' dismissal (in 2015). Indeed, he was none too happy, himself. Everyone welcomed him back with open arms for the next series, and remains a show staple.
Perhaps the series' 'judge shuffling' amounts to countering what Sir Tom expressed so well in that quote. A 2023 Metro article stated as much when reporting on Anne-Marie's exit. When the production moved from BBC to ITV, the network made changing the show's target demographic a priority.
All of this manoeuvring informs us that being a judge on The Voice UK is not all fun and games. The judges seem to call the shots when the cameras are rolling, but they too must comply with production directives. Yet, it seems that the concept lacks direction, overall.
The Voice UK's Internet Movie Database (IMDB) page comments section paints a portrait of disappointment. Among other aspects, viewers bemoan the lack of spark and camaraderie among the judges. They also feel for those singing competition contestants no judge turns around for. Fans wonder why those singers get no feedback on their audition, or learn why the judges rejected them.
Some contestants have reported unfair treatment behind the scenes, and complained about favouritism. One singing competition contestant accused the show's producers of manufacturing controversy and creating tensions on-set.
This is perhaps not the behind-the-scenes look that fans of this show hope for. Still, it's important to know the lengths these contestants - and the judges go to, to provide entertainment.
In the end, The Voice UK is what we make of it. Despite its controversies, this show gives us a chance to hear powerful vocals and get to know music industry legends.
We might not yet know who will compete in The Voice UK 2024, but at least we know who the judges will be. Already, we have that much to look forward to!
Looking for more singing competition insight? Check out our article on X Factor UK.
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