The Voice UK is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The fifth series began airing on 9 January 2016 on BBC One. The series is hosted by Emma Willis and Marvin Humes, and are joined by coaches will.i.am and Ricky Wilson. Rita Ora did not appear in this series of the show after joining The X Factor and was replaced by Boy George. In addition, Sir Tom Jones did not return and was replaced by Paloma Faith, leaving will.i.am as the only coach remaining from the inaugural series.
The fifth series was the last to be aired on BBC One as The Voice UK would move to ITV in 2017. On 13 November, Wilson confirmed that this would be his last series. On 9 April 2016 former Liberty X singer Kevin Simm was announced as the winner of the series, making him the first stolen artist to win the series. This also gave Ricky Wilson his second and final win as a coach, making him the first coach to win a consecutive season. This was the final series to feature Wilson as a coach, and the only series to feature Boy George and Paloma Faith, and the final series to feature Humes as a presenter.
Coaches
On 15 April 2015, the Daily Mirror reported that Simon Cowell said he "saw Rita on The Voice and I thought she was very good. When it comes to asking her over, you know, it's fair game", prompting rumours that Ora was set to join his show, The X Factor. However, these rumours were squashed at the end of April after bosses on The X Factor decided "not to pursue her". On 6 June 2015, it was reported once again that Ora could be leaving the show and taking up a place on The X Factor following weeks of rumours. A week later, Ora broke her silence on the topic, saying that "it is nice to even be rumoured to be in the running". She also said that "watching a bidding war going on makes me feel special". On 16 June 2015, it was officially confirmed that Ora had joined The X Factor alongside new judge Nick Grimshaw, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Cowell. It was later confirmed that day that Ora wouldn't be returning to The Voice. During an appearance on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show, Norton teased her about leaving The Voice, asking if this would be her last appearance on BBC One. Ora responded saying "I love the BBC and the BBC love me back. And it was a great experience. [...] But honestly, it was all about time, and when I shoot The Voice, I'm not in the country, and so I technically wouldn't be able to do it anyway. But literally, that's the truth. They knew I couldn't have done it because my second album comes out then."
In May 2014, The Voice UK executive producer Moira Ross said that she was hoping Kylie Minogue would return to the show for its 2016 series: "Kylie's doing her world tour, so she's not available for series four's filming dates, but hopefully we'll have her back for series five. So it's a little hiatus." During an appearance on Alan Carr: Chatty Man in the same month, Minogue said that whilst she "can't go back next season (series four) [...] the season beyond that...it's an open book. Let's see." On 28 May 2015, So You Think You Can Dance judge Jason Derulo told the Daily Star that he was in talks to join The Voice UK: "there's some talk about me doing The Voice here. It's a cool show, there's interest from both parties, myself and them." He also praised will.i.am, saying that he'd "like to sit with will.i.am." Following Ora's exit, Paloma Faith became favourite to join the show on 20 June 2015. On 25 June 2015, The Voice of Ireland coach Rachel Stevens told OK! magazine that "if they [the producers] called, I'd be there in a second". In addition, she commented that due to her experience on the Irish version of the show, she thinks she is the best person to replace Ora. On 1 July it was reported that former X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger, who has been on both the American and British versions of the show, was entering talks that week to join the show after will.i.am had been "lobbying hard for her to join the panel". However, bosses later claimed they didn't want X Factor castoffs on their show, thus ruling Scherzinger out of the running. On the same day, former member of the Spice Girls and judge on Asia's Got Talent and Superstar, Melanie Chisholm said in an interview that she "would love to do The Voice".
On 14 August 2015, it was announced that Paloma Faith would be replacing Rita Ora on the panel. Upon her appointment on the show, she said “I'm really excited about working with creative people who are there not just to be great singers, but also innovative personalities and performers. I have a long history of helping break artists as in my club nights I booked Kate Nash, Adele and The Noisettes before they hit the big time, and four of my band members have gone on to pursue successful solo careers. I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into something that cultivates the talents of another person and takes the focus off myself for a bit.”
On 14 August 2015, it was announced that Boy George would be joining the coaching lineup replacing Sir Tom Jones. Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, publicly thanked Jones for "his dedication and commitment to the last four series", whilst Mark Linsey, Controller of Entertainment Commissioning, said that "Jones helped make The Voice UK a success" and thanked him for "his invaluable contribution to the series". George stated he's "he's thrilled and excited to be a coach on The Voice UK. I'm a huge fan of the show and have watched and engaged with it from series one. If I can help someone to win, I will be delighted. What a wonderful opportunity to share my experiences and help someone move forward with their musical career. I can't wait to sit in that chair!"
Following the fourth series final, will.i.am said that he "hopes" to return to the show in 2016 if he was invited back by the BBC. In an interview in NME, Ricky Wilson admitted he had not heard anything from producers about their plans for the show's fifth series: "I don't know if I'd do it again, maybe." With the announcement of Boy George and Paloma Faith joining the show's coaching panel, it was confirmed that both will.i.am and Ricky Wilson would be returning to the show. When discussing his return, Wilson said he's "thrilled to be returning to The Voice as the coach of last season's winning performer, Stevie – but with Paloma Faith and Boy George on board, this series is going to be the hardest one yet. The pressure is definitely on, and I know Will will come out with all generic electronic tablets blazing." This is the final series of The Voice UK to air on BBC One as the show moved to ITV. This is also the final series to feature Marvin Humes as host after 3 series.
Promotion At the end of the sixth episode of the fourth series, auditions for the 2016 series were advertised. Audition dates in front of the producers were revealed as well, beginning in Belfast on 18 June.
It was announced that the show's blind auditions would be returning to Manchester's dock10 studios in September 2015 on 14 August 2015. The show was taped between 26 and 29 September 2015. Official photos were released on the first day of filming, revealing what the coaches would be wearing during the blind audition process.
Teams
Colour key: Winner Runner-up Third place Eliminated in the Live shows Eliminated in the Knockouts Artist was stolen by another coach at the Battles Eliminated in the Battles Withdrew
Coach Top 48 Artists will.i.am Lydia Lucy Lyrickal Lauren Lapsley-Browne Charley Blue Tom Rickels Faheem Eli Cripps Theo LlewellynAaron Hill Mari Marli Colleen Gormley Vivica Jade Scott and Vicki Irene Alano-Rhodes Boy George Cody Frost Vangelis Polydorou Harry Fisher Laura Begley Leighton Jones Chase Morton Alaric Green Bradley WatermanEli CrippsHeather Cameron-Hayes Melissa Cavanagh J Sealy Tobias Robertson Charley Birkin Paloma Faith Jordan GrayHeather Cameron-Hayes Beth Morris Dwaine Hayden Deano Boroczky Rick Snowdon Faith NelsonAaron HillKevin SimmBradley WatermanTheo LlewellynAliesha Lobuczek Steve Devereaux Megan Reece JJ Soulx Ricky Wilson Kevin Simm Jolan Chloe Castro Brooklynne Richards Mia Sylvester Kagan Rachel Ann Aliesha LobuczekAlaric Green Áine Carroll Janine Dyer Dave Barnes Tom Milner Efe Udugba
Blind auditions Each coach has the length of the artists' performance to decide if they want that artist on their team. Should two or more coaches want the same artist, then the artist will choose their coach.
Colour key Coach hit his/her "I WANT YOU" button Artist defaulted to this coach's team Artist elected to join this coach's team Artist eliminated with no coach pressing his or her "I WANT YOU" button Artist received an 'All Turn'.
Episode 1 (9 January) The series premiere was broadcast on 9 January 2016 from 7.30pm until 9.05pm.
Group performance: The Voice UK coaches – Medley of "Get On Up" / "You Got the Love" / "Whole Lotta Love"
Order Artist Age Song Coaches and artists choices will.i.am Boy George Paloma Ricky 1 Beth Morris25"Nutbush City Limits" 2 Tom Rickels 22"Want to Want Me/Love Me like You Do" — 3 Brooklynne Richards 23 "Cry to Me" — — 4Keri-Ellah 20 "Before He Cheats" — — — — 5 John Bonham 29 "Can I Play with Madness" — — — — 6 Reverend John Barron 49 "This Is the Moment" — — — — 7 Dwaine Hayden 30 "Don't Know Why" — — 8 Ryan Willingham 23 "Stars" — — — — 9 Lyrickal 46 "Virtual Insanity" — — — 10 Áine Carroll 16 "Brokenhearted" — 11 Bernie Clifton 79 "The Impossible Dream" — — — — 12 Cody Frost 17 "Lay All Your Love on Me" —
Episode 2 (16 January) This episode aired from 7.45pm until 9.05pm. Order Artist Age Song Coaches and artists choices will.i.am Boy George Paloma Ricky 1 Charley Blue 24 "Roll Over Beethoven" — 2 Chase Morton 30"If You Want Me to Stay" — — — 3 Divina de Campo 32 "Poor Wandering One" — — — — 4 Megan Reece 28"What You Don't Do" — — 5 Stevie Calrow 74 "Witchcraft" — — — — 6 Lydia Lucy 22"Trouble" — 7 Janine Dyer 38 "Bridge Over Troubled Water" — 8 Niamh Breslin 18 "Martha's Harbour" — — — — 9 Melissa Cavanagh 25"Blame" — — — 10 Harry Fisher 18"Let It Go" — — —
Episode 3 (23 January) This episode aired from 7.45pm until 9.05pm. Order Artist Age Song Coaches and artists choices will.i.am Boy George Paloma Ricky 1 Colet Selwyn 21 "This Ole House" — — — — 2 Charley Birkin 52 "Rescue Me" — — — 3 Tom Milner 24 "Wait on Me" — — — 4 Stacey Lee 31 "Say Something" — — — — 5 Cody Lee 17 "Ruby" — — — — 6 Billy Black 38 "Bad Case of Loving You" — — — — 7 Lauren Lapsley-Browne 18 "Ain't Nobody" — — 8 Olivia Kate Davies 17 "Don't Be So Hard on Yourself" — — — — 9 Efe Udugba 31 "Jealous" — — — 10 Brooke Waddle 27 "I've Got the Music in Me" — — — — 11 Deano 27 "You Do Something To Me" — — 12 Irene Alano-Rhodes 42 "Wind Beneath My Wings" — —
Episode 4 (30 January) This episode aired from 7.45pm until 9.10pm. Order Artist Age Song Coaches and artists choices will.i.am Boy George Paloma Ricky 1 Aliesha Lobuczek 17 "Break Free" — 2 The Dublin City Rounders 20-28 "Blank Space" — — — — 3 Alaric Green 21 "Broken Vow" — — 4 Tim Baldwin 20 "I'm Yours" — — — — 5 Faheem 21 "Marvin Gaye" — — 6 Sammy-Jo Evans 17 "Jukebox Blues" — — — — 7 J Sealy 43 "The First Cut Is the Deepest" — — — 8 Steve Devereaux 60 "The Lady Is a Tramp" — — — 9 Lester Preston 33 "Dancing On My Own" — — — — 10 Valerie Bacon 70 "You're My World" — — — — 11 Heather Cameron-Hayes 16 "Life on Mars" — — 12 Kevin Simm35"Chandelier"
Episode 5 (6 February) This episode aired from 7.15pm until 8.30pm.