The final COUNTDOWN

OLLY MURS on his last series as a coach on the hit talent show

- VICTORIA WILSON

THE VOICE UK
NEW SATURDAY, 8.25PM,
ITV1 ENTERTAINMENT

It’s the end of an era when ITV1’s The Voice UK returns for its 12th series because coach Olly Murs will be vacating his big red spinning chair at the end of the run.

Before he departs, however, Olly and his fellow coaches Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am and Anne-Marie will be looking to unearth more top vocal talent to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Anthonia Edwards, and, for the first time in the show’s history, groups have been allowed to audition.

Emma Willis is back to host as the Blind Auditions kick off this week, with aspiring artists hoping the coaches will like what they hear and spin their chairs around. At stake is a recording contract with Universal Records, plus a £50,000 cash prize and a luxury holiday.

Here, Olly, 39, who found fame on The X Factor in 2009, tells us what doing six seasons of The Voice UK has meant to him…

This is your last series, Olly. How do you feel?

I feel so proud of this show. When I started, I never imagined I’d be here for six series. I’m sad to be leaving but so happy to have been a part of the show. I’m hoping this series will be the best yet!

So, what will you specifically be looking for this series?

I want characters and entertainers, I want people that are going to get the crowd moving and happy and dancing. I achieved that this year across the board, I got some really amazing people. I wanted people that had good energy, positivity and were really happy to be here and be a part of this. They are obviously talented and have a great voice, too, so I ticked all the boxes that I wanted.