The Voice coaches take to their famous red chairs for the first time as blind auditions kick off
The star-studded line-up get comfy in their new thrones
THE first picture has emerged of The Voice judges sitting in their famous red chairs from the first round of their blind auditions in Manchester.
The snap features veteran judges will.i.am and Tom Jones, joined by US superstar Jennifer Hudson and Brit rocker Gavin Rossdale, all at their new home of ITV, with the new series set to air in 2017.
And along with their move to ITV there are some brand new rules as the contest will focus even more on the quality of contestants’ vocal talent with a shocking twist that means judges are now unable to see the identity of a budding popstar UNLESS they press their buzzer.
The rules change has ramped up the drama as the show makes the switch from the BBC to rival broadcaster ITV.
Host Emma Willis revealed Will.i.am, Tom Jones, Gavin Rossdale and Jennifer Hudson now need to press their judges’ buttons in the audition round to make their chairs swivel round in order to see a show hopeful, and revealed: “If you don’t push your button for a contestant, you don’t get to see them.
“So only the people who press the button get to see who it is, so if no one turns, no one sees who sung.”
In previous years, judges who weren’t impressed by an audition could then see what they missed out on after they finished their song chairs would then turn automatically.
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Yet producers have the playing by new rules will be “good for the show”.
They said: “When they see someone who hasn’t turned, it’s very apologetic.
“But if they haven’t seen that person and don’t have to interact directly, it’s a bit more ‘that was a little bit off key’, where they might not have said having seen them. So I think it’s a good thing for the show.”
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