The Voice UK has been a hit with viewers since it first aired in 2012
The Voice UK first graced our screens in 2012 and has been a hit ever since, now filming its 14th series.
The popular show features blind auditions, where the star-studded coaches hit a button to turn their chair if they like what they hear, seeing the performer for the first time.
If more than one coach turns, the artist chooses a mentor for their journey on the show. After the blind auditions, the contestants are divided into four teams, each mentored by a coach who selects songs for their artists to perform in a series of battles until a winner is crowned.
The Voice UK has welcomed many musical talents to the coveted coach chair, but one constant presence since the beginning is Sir Tom Jones.
Sir Tom, 85, was part of the original panel alongside will.i.am, Jessie J and Danny O’Donoghue. However, as filming for series 14 commences, only Sir Tom and will.i.am remain from the original line-up, reports Wales Online. For series 14, they’re joined by Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones sharing coaching duties, and Kelly Rowland.
A familiar face behind the scenes of The Voice UK is executive producer, Moira Ross, who has produced five seasons of the successful singing series.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to discuss her new series KPOPPED, Moira, whose work also includes Strictly Come Dancing, The Masked Singer and Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, told us: “It’s some time ago now but I made five seasons of The Voice when it first launched in the UK.
“That was my sort of insight into A-list superstar music talent. That was a big learning curve, you know, to understand firsthand just how hard these people work.”
Talking about working with Sir Tom, Moira added: “Tom is the ultimate professional and it was always a privilege to hear him sing. Even in rehearsals, it was just an absolute privilege so it never felt like a job that show.
“It was a really fun time, actually, for those five years and hanging out with the likes of will.i.am. He’s a lot of fun, Will, he’s got endless bags of ideas!”
Moira has been able to utilise her experience on The Voice UK for her latest project Apple TV+’s KPOPPED, where she worked as an executive producer.
The eight-part programme, from executive producers Lionel Richie and Miky Lee, sees each episode presented by Soojeong Son and it showcases two Western music legends – from Patti LaBelle to Boy George, Kesha to J Balvin and Megan Thee Stallion to some members of the Spice Girls – teamed up with a premier K-pop act, including ITZY, Billlie, BLACKSWAN, and STAYC. The K-pop group splits into two units, each teaming up with one of the guest artists.
They have just hours to reinvent a global hit, whilst also working on choreography, vocals, and visuals to wow the audience during their live stage performance. K-pop fans are then asked to choose the winning collaboration.
Discussing the filming process, Moira confessed it’s the “fastest turnaround” she’s ever experienced in her impressive career.
She said: “The Western stars would arrive and we would have approximately 48 hours! They’d arrive, they’d maybe get their bearings, they’d get to rehearsals and they were straight into work with the K-pop bands.
“There would be some sort of relief in terms of that experience of seeing some of the sights of Seoul and the cultural exchange. Then we’d rehearse again and next day we’re in studio, so rehearsing on set and they’re in front of that live audience of very excited K-pop fans.”
Moira added: “It’s the fastest turnaround I’ve ever done in terms of these entertainment productions but because of their level of stardom and professional capacity, they could pick it up like that and they all work so hard so it all fell into place.”
KPOPPED is available to watch now on Apple TV+
