'The Voice' UK contestants 'told to change image'

Published Apr 28 2012, 12:26 BST  |  By Colin Daniels

The Voice UK contestants have reportedly come under pressure to change their appearance.

Matt Clubb clashed with stylists after they tried to cut off his long hair, while Jaz Ellington has hired a personal trainer to help him lose weight over fears he's not "pop star material", the Daily Star reports.



"They tried to cut my hair and shave my beard and I said, 'I can probably take two or three of you down before you pin me down and shave it'. I said, 'No, it's part of me'," Clubb commented.

Ellington confessed: "I know it's The Voice but I want to be the whole package. I do feel the pressure to make myself look good."

The Voice has differentiated itself from other shows like The X Factor by claiming to focus on vocal talent rather than appearance, particularly during the blind auditions.

Meanwhile, will.i.am is said to have spent most of the week in America, only communicating with his team via email.

"We saw him a few days ago but he is a busy man. He will nip back to America for two days. But we can tweet him and we have his email," Tyler James said.

His singers have apparently spent a total of one hour with their coach. It has also been reported that one of his acts, Joelle Moses, was unable to choose her own song and was instead given a track she had never heard before - 'I'm Going Down' by Mary J Blige.

"will.i.am did go to the States but was available on email and by Saturday he will have had as much time with his acts as the others," a BBC insider told the paper.

"There was a suggestion that Matt lose a couple of inches off his hair and he declined. And as for song choices, the coaches work with their acts to choose the songs they feel best suit them."

Team will.i.am and Team Tom Jones will perform on the first Voice UK live show, which airs tonight (April 28) at 7pm on BBC One.

Two acts - one from each team - will be voted off the reality programme on Sunday's (April 29) results show.