Will.i.am back in the hot seat
WILL.I.AM: BACK IN THE HOT SEAT ON THE UK VERSION OF POPULAR SHOW THE VOICE
Shares stage with Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson and Olly Murs.
Will.i.am might have just left South Africa after leading discussions at the BCX Disrupt Summit in November – but there’s another opportunity to get your fill of the innovative musician.
He has returned as a coach on The Voice UK for season 7 and South Africans can watch the show every Sunday thanks to ITV Choice (DStv channel 123).
Will.i.am has been a judge on each of the show’s seven seasons, no small feat. This season will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and Tom Jones are joined by Olly Murs for a musical extravaganza that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Here’s what will.i.am has to say about his involvement on the show.
How different does it feel being back on The Voice UK after doing The Voice Kids in the summer?
It feels good to be back.
The only time the vibe seems similar is when you have a 16-yearold singer up there because our cut off for The Voice Kids is 14. So a 14-year-old singer is really no different to a 16-year-old singer.
I have 16- and 17-year-olds in my team this year. That is the only time when there is a blend, when you can’t really recognise the experience as different.
Other than that, the fact there is Tom Jones there and Jennifer Hudson and now Olly makes it different. I really enjoyed working with Pixie and Danny on The Voice Kids.
What dynamic does Olly bring to the panel?
Olly is quite mysterious, like Gavin Rossdale. He has similar circus antics as Ricky Wilson and he has the heartthrob front-man performer vibe that Danny from The Script had. He is like all three of them together. I like Olly a lot on the show.
You have been playing a few mind games with Olly on the panel …
There weren’t mind games but because I’ve been stressed before making decisions on the show, I am just trying to make it light and for him not to stress too much as it clogs you from just enjoying the person singing.
When you are extra critical or super cynical you are not really enjoying the moment.
Jennifer is the reigning queen, is she more confident this year?
Jennifer is great on TV. I am happy she did this show again and that she committed to do both
The Voice UK and The Voice US because she could have easily said, ‘I’ve had a great time in the UK but I’m doing the US show now and I’m not going to break my back going back and forth’. So I am happy she is still doing The Voice UK.
You have had the experience of doing two versions of The Voice when you did the UK and Australia shows…
Yeah but for some reason, the trek from LA to London is manageable but it really feels like Star Trek on the journey from LA to Australia. You really feel you are going to a different planet it is so far away!
How is it to have Tom back too?
Think about it, Tom has an excuse not to come back. He has a new hip, he is 70 years old-plus, he could just say, ‘I am going to relax!’ But Tom is like, ‘I have got a new hip and I’m coming on The Voice and I’m more vibrant than last season!’ I don’t know where he gets the energy from but I want to be like Tom when I am in my 70s.
Are you looking for anything different on the show this year?
I am looking to work with people post-The Voice. Whoever I can work with after the show. That is what I have been turning for. That is what I am excited about.
What keeps bringing you back to The Voice UK?
Just the UK, I love it here. I just like this country, Britain. Any excuse. Although for some reason when I do my British accent it sounds like an old man! – Citizen reporter