'The Voice' UK - Live Blog
Published Mar 24 2012, 17:35 GMT | By Alex Fletcher
© BBC / Wall To Wall
First out of the blocks tonight is The Voice UK. will.i.am (the American one), Sir Tom Jones (the old one), Jessie of J-shire (the female one) and Danny O'Donoghue (the one nobody knows) are hoping to find the next great singing star and give Simon Cowell a kick in the goolies while they are at it.
Digital Spy will be live blogging the whole event, so stick with us for the evening for the full lowdown on the slickest new reality TV kid on the block.
> The Voice UK: How does it work?
> Voice Tom Jones, Jessie J: Who has the best voice of all time? - video
> The Voice UK launch show - In Pictures
20:21That's it then. All over for week one. What did you make of The Voice UK? Will you be sticking with it? Were you impressed by the talent? Was it a refreshing change to Cowell's OTT drama? Or was it too bland and slow for your tastes? Let us know in the usual place at the bottom of the page!
20:20And that's actually quite a turn-up for the books. J picks will.i.am and becomes the first member of Team Will. Will and Danny may only have one artist to Sir Tom and Jessie's three, but they probably have the best pair of acts from show one.
20:18It's all-out war now for J Marie Cooper. Jessie J is playing on her "hot right now" talent. will.i.am is fighting back with the Black Eyed Peas stats book.
20:17The best act of the night? Of course it's saved for the last. J Marie Cooper. She's been on Strictly before, she's got a alternate/indie vibe thing going on. Lovely red hair, her own style and killer vocals. She had all the tricks in the book with her voice. will.i.am can "feel the pain". Sir Tom thinks she was "on fire". Danny says that she "killed it". Jessie J calls her "ridiculonso" (no, us neither).
20:13I reckon his granny may go strangle Danny O'Donoghue though for not picking him.
20:12Whether you will enjoy or hate The Voice was pretty much summed up with that last act Phil Poole. He's got a great voice. He's got a lovely granny. But he wasn't quite good enough to get through. However, there's no ridicule, staged changed minds or nastiness. It all ends in a dignified manner. Basically, it's the anti-Cowell.
20:10I am enjoying the banter between Danny and will.i.am. They are like bickering brothers. Bickering oddball brothers.
20:06Do you remember Max from earlier? You must do, he was only on five minutes ago. He was the one that went with Team Danny. He was the one I was raving about. Well, his girlfriend is up next. The only problem? She's blander than vanilla ice cream with a cardboard flake. The coaches agree and there's not a single spin.
20:04Out of all four coaches, Ben opts for Team Jessie. Danny accuses the lad of being "sucked into Jessie's black hole". It all sounds a bit unsavoury.
19:59Ben should probably ditch the bow-ties and tweed though. It's all a bit Mika. And nobody likes Mika.
19:59I tell you what, he's got something, this lad. He should probably get off the webcam and start singing in public. He's got will.i.am and Danny spinning in a matter of seconds. Tom and Jessie follow suit. This is going to be a battle for the coaches. They will all want this kid.
19:57Next up is Ben Kelly. He's big on the "YouTube scene" apparently. I thought that was just cats falling off sofas and Fenton the dog.
19:55What was I saying about nobody ever picking Danny? Max, my favourite act of the night so far is wooed by the Script crooner. They could be a killer combo this contest, I reckon. Mark my words.
19:52A chap called Max is up next. Max Milner. He's my favourite act so far. A truly distinctive voice and I can almost forgive him his poor choice in headwear. He's got a more interesting vocal than anyone from the entire history of X Factor.
19:48Even a cheeky Michael Jackson impression isn't enough though for the Black Eyed Peas star. Nobody can compete with the living legend Sir Tom it seems. That's a third member for Team Tom already.
19:47But who is Adam going to pick out of will.i.am and Sir Tom? Tom wheels out his best Elvis Presley anecdote. Surely will can't beat that (don't even suggest Cheryl Cole). Oh, but what's this? A Michael Jackson tale... we didn't see that one coming.
19:44Something for the ladies next. Adam Isaac. He's got floppy blonde hair. He's got a lumberjack shirt. He plays a guitar. He sings a Stereophonics song. He's bloody earnest. A perfect fit for The Voice.
19:42Tom Jones has another member of his time. Aundrea. She has a big purple Mr Whippy hair thing going on. will.i.am doesn't think much to her and I have to agree. Probably the weakest singer so far. Sir Tom will have his work cut out with that one.
19:39Reggie Yates is sporting a delightful salmon blazer. That's the highlight from the last five minutes. Well, it is for me anyway.
19:36I called it right. Toni claims to have always been a Jessie J fan. Is Danny O'Donoghue going to be able to nab anyone? His "I'm Irish card" doesn't appear to be getting him far.
19:34Toni performs 'Leave Right Now'. Did nobody tell her Will Young was dropped from the panel? It's a late chair swizzle, but Jessie J finally snaps and presses her button. Danny and Sir Tom are quick behind her, so it's going to be a battle to land her. My money is on Jessie's tears winning out.
19:32I'd like to see them making more of Holly and Reggie on the show. The two hosts are one of the biggest draws for me. A refreshing change from Ant & Dec's cheeky patter. But they've been relegated to voiceovers and the sidelines so far.
19:30Next up to face the spinning chairs of destiny...Toni. She's got alopecia. There's some Embrace backing music. Get a hankie at the ready for your mum.
19:27I've already got a soft spot for The Buttery. I think I might nickname him Butters. He's giddy with glee after Tom Jones spins around for him. He's got some big pipes in that big chest.
19:24Next up to face the coaches is Samuel Buttery. Great name. Great big belly. Camper than a Gok Wan, Graham Norton and David Walliams dinner party. The love child of Alan Carr and Adele.
19:20It wasn't even a 'Slam Dunk Da Funk'. And the coaches agree, not one spin for the lad. Jessie J softens the blow by revealing that her first ever gig was a 5ive concert. She probably used to kiss posters of Sean on her wall.
19:18*Sean from 5ive klaxon!* Yup, you heard me. The one that wasn't J or Abs is auditioning. He looks a bit more weathered than in his boyband days. He's also playing a piano and singing Coldplay's 'Trouble'. To be honest, it's no 'Keep on Movin'.
19:16Jessica opts to join Team Jessie. After singing 'Price Tag', it wasn't a huge shock.
19:15Now it's time for the coaches to fight it out. will.i.am is yabbering on about his connections and world pedigree. Jessie J tugs at the heartstrings. Sir Tom Jones says very little, but his honey-soaked gruff grunts could woo anyone. Danny O'Donoghue wants a piece as well, but I think he knows the game is up.
19:12SWINGING CHAIR ALERT. Jessica's cover of 'Price Tag' gets some big grins and the first button press of the series. will.i.am is the first coach to take a spin in his red chair. Jessie J joins him. And Danny O'Donoghue. And finally The Jones. It's a full house.
19:09After a drawn-out blow-by-blow account of the rules (swinging chairs, yadda yadda), it's time for the first act of the night. Jessica Hammond. She's pretty. She's got a guitar and she's "all about the music". *serious face*
19:08The stars on this show can actually sing. To prove this, they are singing. A four-coach take on Black Eyed Peas hit 'I Gotta Feeling'. I Gotta Feeling will.i.am's bank balance is being boosted. It's very much like a Digital Spy karaoke night. A bit all over the shop and embarrassing, but everyone means well.
19:03I think we can gather that "it's all about the voice". Jessie J doesn't care about your package (ooh-er). Tom Jones is glowing with a Vegas tan and only wants a pure voice. There's also some bloke who isn't Will Young involved.
19:02Woof! And we're off. The Voice UK is finally here. The time for talk is over. Check out those Star Trek chairs!
But perhaps this is a show for people that don't want to see bad acts getting humiliated. And as for the arguing there's a big difference between some playful teasing/arguing on The Voice and the all out arguing on The X Factor some weeks.
March 27th 2012 at 2:44am
I think it would be better if the judges weren't allowed to buzz until after the song had been sung - how can you tell whether someone is a good singer in just a few seconds. I thought the show was OK albeit a little boring and awash with sob stories.
March 26th 2012 at 12:58pm
Michael Hunter when x factor judges argue its them defending their acts and its entertaining whereas on the voice the arguments look scripted and they r not the 4 biggest stars in the world
March 25th 2012 at 7:03pm
You said it was too much arguing yet say you loved the X Factor? All the judges on X Factor do is argue. It's unbearable. It wasn't arguing on The Voice. They were campaigning on who the act should pick.
March 25th 2012 at 6:58pm
Daniel Pitts
Surely you cant be referring to Frankie! lol
March 25th 2012 at 6:29pm