The Voice Kids
Pop star Paloma Faith on being the new coach on The Voice Kids
SATURDAY / ITV Paloma Faith proved a fun and knowledgeable coach on The Voice UK on BBC1. So I’m sure she’ll be great on this junior spin-off as she joins will.i.am, Pixie Lott and Danny Jones. Paloma reveals all about being back in the red spinning chair!
THE VOICE KIDS
NEW SATURDAY / ITV / 7.25PM / ENTERTAINMENT
Having been a coach on The Voice UK in 2016, Paloma Faith is no stranger to taking a spin in a red chair. And this week, she joins the all-star mentoring line-up of its junior spin-off, ITV’S The Voice Kids.
Singer-songwriter Paloma, whose hit songs include Upside Down, Make Your Own Kind of Music and I’ve Gotta Be Me, is replacing Jessie J and will join returnees Pixie Lott, Danny Jones and will.i.am to search for the next big pint-sized pop star.
As the pre-recorded Blind Audition shows begin this week, with youngsters between seven and 14 taking to the stage, here, mum-of-one Paloma, 38, tells
TV Times why she’s having an absolute ball in her new role…
Why did you want to join
The Voice Kids?
I just love children. My original life plan was to be a teacher. My mum was a primary-school teacher and, from the age of 14 until I was about 25, I did lots of voluntary work. I’d either go into my mum’s school to help out or, as
I was trained as a contemporary dancer, I’d hold dance workshops with kids who were deaf or blind. I worked with autistic children, too.
You were a coach on the adult version back in its BBC1 days. How does this compare?
I prefer it. I’m having the time of my life. I feel like the main show gave me a lot of anxiety but this gives me pure joy. It’s so uplifting and you genuinely feel like you’re helping these kids. This show allows you to see how growing up and becoming an adult gives us inhibition and self-doubt…
What do you mean?
As kids, we had a purity and our talents could really shine. In adulthood, people beat us around the head with their own issues. I feel like these kids just come in with this pure talent that really knocks the spots off any of us coaches. They are infinitely more talented than us… and we’re probably more immature!
With so many talented acts, are you sad you can’t turn around for all of them?
I am, but they take it really well. They’re like, ‘Well, thanks for this opportunity anyway, I’m just happy to be here.’ I’m thinking,
‘I wish I could be more like that.’ I’m learning more from these kids than I do from adults. There’s one kid that I really, really regret not turning for but you have to follow your gut.
Have the other coaches given you a warm welcome?
Oh, Danny, Pixie and will.i.am have been so nice. It’s just good vibes here, there’s no competition and we’re all just so happy for the children. We’re all in agreement that they’re brilliant and so brave – I wouldn’t have done something like this when I was their age. Although, I look at pictures of me dancing when I was a kid and
I was so good… then I trained and I was rubbish! At my kid’s school, they don’t have winners – they have ‘first winner’, ‘second winner’ and so on. Everyone’s a winner! And, similarly, the kids here are just enjoying the experience.
Do you think it’s important to teach the kids taking part about rejection, too, though – especially in show business?
Yeah, although we keep telling them, ‘It’s not rejection, it’s just not your turn today.’ They have got their whole lives ahead of them. It’s meant to be a fun experience, whatever stage of the competition you get to – it’s not supposed to be a defining moment for any of them. I wouldn’t do a show that was putting pressure on kids.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Battle Rounds and Final are now likely to air later in the year. Do you think you’ll struggle when it comes to whittling your team down?
I’m actually more annoyed with myself for not just choosing one really good singer, so that I can say, ‘It’s definitely that one!’ It’s really hard because there are so many good ones. How do I make the choice? I just have to consider who’s going to get the most out of this show – or whoever’s mum or dad gives you the cash! Ha, ha! Just kidding!
THEY ARE INFINITELY
MORE TALENTED THAN US