From a Gavin & Stacey lookalike to a singer from The Streets... a first look at this year's contestants on The Voice UK
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As singing contest The Voice UK returns, a host of new contestants will have their singing judged by a panel of stars.
The contestants include Ryan Green, 17, a school pupil from Ilford; Lee Glasson, 31, an acoustic singer from Coventry; Sally Barker, 54, an singer-songwriter from Leicestershire; Tara Lewis, 44, an impersonator from South Wales and Beth McCarthey, an acoustic musician from York.
Leo Ihenacho, 31, a former vocalist from Mike Skinner's band The Streets, will also compete on the show.
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Second chance: Leo Ihenacho, 31, is a contestant on BBC1's The Voice
The hopefuls will be trying to impress judges Ricky Wilson, Tom Jones, will.i.am and Kylie Minogue.
Tom and Will are returning to the show as original judges, while Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky and Kylie are newcomers, who will replace Danny O'Donoghue and Jessie J.
This year’s show also sees new presenters, with Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates replaced by Big Brother presenter Emma Willis and JLS star Marvin Humes.
Quirky: Contestant Tara Lewis, 44, is a 'Nessa' from Gavin & Stacey impersonator
They will be facing face blind auditions, with one minute to spark the judges’ interest and gain the offer of a mentor or be sent home.
Kylie has been sharing her excitement about the forthcoming series, sharing a snap of herself and the rest of the judging panel entitled ‘My guys’.
Will.i.am tweeted: ‘thevoiceUK season3 is going to be amazing... @kylieminogue is a doll.’
Passionate: Lee Glasson, 31, sings in a blind audition on The Voice
In it to win: Singer-songwriter Sally Barker, 54, competes on the show
He also told Reveal magazine that he has grown fond of Kylie, saying: ‘Kylie is like a mediator. She is too snuggable. I want to cuddle her.
‘I can't go tit for tat with her. I am more likely to say, “Let me just give you the singer then.” I am not going to fight for it, as I just want to snuggle with her!’
Meanwhile, the judges have reportedly been told to ‘be more fun’ on this year’s show.
Talented: Beth McCarthy, 15, performs for the judges on her guitar
Serene: Anna McLuckie, 17, hopes to impress the panel with her voice and her harp
Heartfelt: Danielle Chevannes gives a passionate performance on The Voice
The judges: Ricky Wilson, Tom Jones, will.i.am and Kylie Minogue will pick contestants in blind auditions
The Daily Star on Sunday reports that bosses are trying a new approach by taking some of the focus off the judges and onto the contestants.
A show insider revealed: ‘No one likes a smug know-it-all and the feeling from a Voice think-tank was the show took itself way too seriously.
‘The Voice was so concerned with being seen as superior to X Factor, with “real artists”, that it actually alienated viewers who wanted to be entertained.’
They added: ‘Viewers never really connected to the acts because the show concentrated so much on their voices and not enough on their personalities and back stories.’
The Voice returns to BBC1 at 7pm on Saturday January 11.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2537497/From-Gavin-Stacey-lookalike-singer-The-Streets-look-years-contestants-The-Voice-UK.html#ixzz2q78kJvAr
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