The Voice UK (series 3)

The Voice UK is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The third series began airing on 11 January 2014 on BBC One,^[1] as opposed to the usual start in March.^[2] will.i.am and Tom Jones returned as coaches, while Kylie Minogue and Ricky Wilson joined the show as replacements for former coaches, Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue. Emma Willis and Marvin Humes co-presented the show for the first time, replacing Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates.

On 9 February 2014, it was announced that a new spin off show called The Voice: Louder on Two would air every weekday during the live shows on BBC Two hosted by Zoë Ball.^[3]

Jermain Jackman of Team Will was crowned as the winner of the series on 5 April 2014.^[4]

This series was the only series to feature Minogue as a coach.^[5]

Coaches and presenters

The Voice UK series 3 coaches

Ricky Wilson

Tom Jones

Kylie Minogue

will.i.am

On 5 July 2013, Jessie J announced that she would not be returning as a coach for the third series due to touring commitments in support for her second album, Alive.^[6] On 16 July, it was announced that Danny O'Donoghue would not be returning either as he wanted to concentrate on The Script.^[7] People rumoured be in the running to join the panel as replacements for Jessie J and O'Donoghue included Rita Ora, Emeli Sande, Kylie Minogue, Marvin Humes, Melanie C and Cheryl Cole, though Cole was ruled out of the running. On 11 September, it was confirmed that Minogue would become a coach for the third series, along with the confirmation of returning coaches will.i.am and Tom Jones.^[7] On 15 September, Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates announced that they would not be returning to co-present the third series,^[8] and Emma Willis was announced as Willoughby's replacement.^[9] On 17 September, Humes confirmed that he would replace Yates as Willis' co-presenter.^[10] On 19 September, Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson confirmed that he would be a coach and O'Donoghue's replacement for the third series.^[11] On 9 February 2014, it was announced that Zoë Ball would present spin-off show The Voice: Louder on Two.^[12]

Promotion

On 21 December 2013, the first trailer for the series premiered following the final of Strictly Come Dancing at 21:50. The trailer features all four coaches dressed in different medical costumes. They overlook a hospital ward, as many babies cry behind them. Then, the sound of a beautiful voice is heard from the direction of the babies, and stops all the crying. The voice captures the attention of Minogue and Wilson, who both turn around to see who is singing. will.i.am and Jones then turn, as the voice is revealed to be one of the babies, prompting the tagline "A Star is Born". On 1 January 2014, a new edition of the trailer aired, where another baby sings, in a more R&B style, also impressing the coaches.

As part of BBC One's promotion of its 2014 schedule, The Voice UK aired the first clips of the Blind Auditions, featuring a male artist walking to the microphone, a mother being reunited with her daughter following her performance, Emma Willis with a family watching a performance, the coaches' opening performance, and Minogue opening the trailer saying "This waiting, it's killer. And the anticipation", and she also tells an artist (unknown to the viewer), that they have "done the thing which is the thing that we [coaches] are waiting for."

On 6 January 2014, the series had its press launch at Broadcasting House. All four coaches were present, as were the two new presenters.^[13] The coaches spoke to members of the press, and in the week leading up to the premiere, the show was highly publicised by the British media, with coaches giving interviews in the Radio Times,^[14] The Metro,^[15] Digital Spy^[16] and The Telegraph.^[17] Later that day, will.i.am and Kylie Minogue appeared on the new-look One Show, where they talked about the show and last years finalist, Leah McFall.

Teams

The teams were revealed during 22 February blind audition episode.

Colour key

Blind auditions

The blind auditions returned to Salford, Greater Manchester on 1 October 2013 at MediaCityUK. Each coach has the length of the artists' performance to decide if they want that artist on their team. Should two or more coaches want the same artist, then the artist will choose their coach.

Colour key

Blind audition 1 (11 January)

The premiere was 90 minutes long.

• Group performance: The Voice UK coaches – Medley of "I Predict a Riot"/"Can't Get You Out of My Head"^[18]

Blind audition 2 (18 January)

The second episode was broadcast on 18 January, and was 80 minutes long.

Blind audition 3 (25 January)

This was the first show in which one coach did not get any acts. Kylie did not get any.

Blind audition 4 (1 February)

Blind audition 5 (8 February)

Blind audition 6 (15 February)

Blind audition 7 (22 February)

Battle rounds

The Battle rounds were broadcast over two episodes on the 1 and 8 March 2014. Each coach was joined by an advisor, with Minogue being joined by Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, Wilson by singer Katy B, Jones with Tinie Tempah and will.i.am with last year's runner up and from his own team, Leah McFall, and once again by Dante Santiago.^[19] Like the previous season, each coach was given one steal, they can hit their button as many times as they like, but can only steal one artist from another coach.

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Battle round 1 (1 March)

Battle round 2 (8 March)

Knockout rounds

The Knockout rounds were broadcast over two episodes on the 15 and 16 March 2014. This series, however, the show decided to drop the "fast pass", and instead of singing in groups of three, each contestant sang in front of everyone else on the team. At the end of each knockout round the coach then decided out of all their contestants which three contestants to take to the live shows.

Knockout 1 (15 March)

Knockout 2 (16 March)

Live shows

The live performance shows were aired live from Elstree Studios and ran for three consecutive weeks, beginning on 22 March 2014. The final took place on 5 April 2014.

OneRepublic and Jason Derulo performed during the quarter final, while Enrique Iglesias performed in the semi final, alongside Shakira.^[21][22] Aloe Blacc and Paloma Faith performed during the final.^[23]

Results summary

Colour key

     Artist was in the bottom two

     Artist received the fewest votes and was eliminated

     Artist received the most public votes

Live show details

Week 1: Quarter-final (22 March)

After all three artists from each team have performed, the coach will then have to decide which artist they want to give a "fast pass" to and put straight through to the semi-final. The voting lines for the remaining artists will then open after all twelve artists have performed.

• Group performances: Team Will ("Scream & Shout"), Team Kylie ("All The Lovers"), Team Tom ("Burning Down The House") and Team Ricky ("Oh My God")
• Special musical guests: Jason Derulo (medley of "Trumpets"/"Stupid Love"/"Talk Dirty")^[24] and OneRepublic ("Counting Stars")^[25]

Week 2: Semi-final (29 March)

• Group performances: Team Tom with Tom Jones ("Dancing in the Street"), Team Ricky with Ricky Wilson ("You Really Got Me");^[26] Team Kylie with Kylie Minogue ("Into the Blue")^[27] and Team will with will.i.am ("Let's Dance")
• Musical guests: Enrique Iglesias ("I'm a Freak") and Shakira ("Empire")^[22]

Week 3: Final (5 April)

• Group performance: The Voice UK Coaches ("Rocks")
• Musical guests: Aloe Blacc ("The Man") and Paloma Faith ("Can't Rely on You")

Post-show success

Bob Blakeley, who was originally rejected by all four coaches, was given a record deal on live television.^[28][29] He has since released an album.

Anna McLuckie's rendition of "Get Lucky" received much positive feedback particularly on YouTube, as the official BBC version of the audition received three million views only a month after it was released, and over ten million views up to now. Other users uploaded the video, each getting millions of views as well. This was particularly noted as none other from this series had achieved more than a million views yet, and had even surpassed videos from Series 1 and 2. When Anna was eliminated during the Knockout Rounds, her coach Will.i.am was subject to much criticism, particularly on Twitter and YouTube. Celebrities such as One Direction's Niall Horan even disagreed with his decision.^[30][31] Since the show, McLuckie has continued her studies.

During the live shows, the BBC released studio versions of the songs to iTunes. Christina Marie's rendition of Everlong reached the iTunes Top 40. This was particularly noted as the week prior to the live shows, she had been ill, and had rarely rehearsed it to preserve her voice.

Reception

Critical reception

Following lukewarm responses from the British media after the first two series of the show, the response to the third series premiere was largely positive. Ed Power from The Daily Telegraph gave the series premiere 3 stars,^[32] praising Minogue for being "glamorous, agreeably giggly [and] a card-carrying national treasure". Power said that she "was a natural" and that she had "spontaneity to go with sass". He also complimented Wilson for being "chipper and unforced". Catriona Wightman from Digital Spy was very positive about the premiere,^[33] claiming that despite "reservations about whether Kylie would really manage to break through the nice girl mode" she was "brilliantly watchable", and that "Kylie's definitely a hit". The second blind audition continued to receive positive reviews from critics, receiving 4 (out of 5) stars by Michael Hogan from The Daily Telegraph, who commented that the "two new coaches add verve to The Voice UK and the newly confident singing contest seems to have found its feet" and that the new series "is a leap forward and the franchise has finally hit its stride."^[34] However, the Battle Rounds were criticised, with Gabriel Tate from The Daily Telegraph stating there were "few stand out moments" in the second battle round. He also said that "after such a promising start to the third series, it's a shame to see that The Voice falling foul once again of slack editing and familiarity of format." Keith Watson of The Metro gave the second battle round two stars, stating that the show was full of "overambitious [artists] being made promises of stardom that will never come true".^[35] The final received more positive reviews from the press, with Ed Power from The Daily Telegraph giving it 4 out of 5 stars, stating that the "tension was terrible" and it was a "drama soaked final". He also answered whether or not the addition of Kylie Minogue on the show would be successful, by saying that "we needn't have fretted. Kylie, it was clear from the very first episode, was a natural in the coaches chair." He concluded that "series three was assuredly a triumph – after much smoke and noise, The Voice has at last achieved lift-off."^[36]

Ratings

References

• Official website