The Voice UK 2019: New change revealed as the show returns to ITV

The Voice UK returns next Saturday night and the search is on to find a new champion.

Emma Willis will again host the competition with the stellar panel of coaches – Jennifer Hudson, Olly Murs, Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am – all back sitting in their spinning red chairs.

But while the coaches remain the same, there’s a new change this year as the blind auditions welcome trios for the first time.

“It makes the Blinds that much more fun and exciting and interesting,” Jennifer says of the change. “When you hear one voice you think ‘hmm…I wonder if they’re older or younger, I wonder if it’s a male or a female’ kind of thing but now that we have trios it’s like ‘is there one voice, two or three?! Who is singing what?’

“Again it makes it that much more exciting and more to look forward to because there’s more to figure out. It’s like a little journey…”

Olly Murs agreed: “Trios have been good. I think all four of us have got a trio each which was great in the end. I don’t think that was intentional, it just happened. I think actually we’ve all picked a trio that the public would have put us with.

“There’s been some very successful trios in the music industry over the years. Just naming off the top of my head – Salt n Pepa, TLC, Black Eyed Peas of course… although they had Fergie for a period, being a trio is their main thing. There’s Destiny’s Child, Take That now are a three piece.

“Trios certainly work so I think we’ll see if they work on The Voice…,” he added. “In a trio you’ve got to really try and find your moments to shine and be in harmony so it’s good…it’s good for the competition

The Voice UK 2019 will start on Saturday, January 5 at 8PM on ITV.