The Voice UK series 9 explained

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Host:Emma Willis
Winner:Blessing Chitapa
Winner Mentor:Olly Murs
Runner Up:Jonny Brooks
Num Episodes:14
Network:ITV

The Voice UK is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The ninth series began airing on 4 January 2020, presented by Emma Willis on ITV. will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Olly Murs returned for their ninth, eighth and third series, respectively, as coaches. Jennifer Hudson did not return as a coach for this series and was replaced by singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor. A promotional trailer was released on 6 December 2019.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the semi-final and final of the competition, originally meant to air on 28 March and 4 April, were postponed until November 2020.

In September 2020, ITV revealed that the series would continue in October 2020. However, Trainor digitally coached from the United States because of travel restrictions due to her pregnancy and the ongoing pandemic.

On 14 November 2020, Blessing Chitapa was announced the winner of the season, making her the first winner to be born outside of the UK as Chitapa was born in Zimbabwe. In addition, she became the youngest winner in the show's history, surpassing Molly Hocking the year before. This also marks the second consecutive, as well as the final win of Olly Murs.

Coaches

On 26 September 2019, it was confirmed that will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Olly Murs would return to the show as coaches for their ninth, eighth and third series, respectively.[1] They are joined by new coach Meghan Trainor, an American Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, who replaces former coach Jennifer Hudson. Hudson opted not to return for her fourth series due to filming commitments in the US, which is Cats and Respect.[1] Trainor expressed her excitement at joining the coaching team and commented, "It's a dream come true and I can't wait to sit in the chair with my own button and listen to some incredible new talent!"[2] Alongside the coaches, the return of presenter Emma Willis was announced; she was excited by Trainor's casting.[2]

Trainor later spoke about joining the coaching panel, admitting that she found it "intimidating" and felt "insecure" about what the contestants would think about her, believing she was not as well established in comparison to the rest of the panel.[3] She added that she was nervous about replacing Hudson and asked her for advice on how to approach the show.[3] will.i.am thought it was hard for Trainor to settle into the position because Hudson was well loved on the show, but believed that Trainor would be liked by the audience too.[3] Murs agreed and described Trainor as "a very powerful woman, she's got this great energy about her, she's fun."[3]

Production

Filming for this series commenced on 14 October 2019 at Dock 10 studios with the taping of the blind auditions.[4]

A promotional trailer for the series was released on 6 December 2019, featuring the coaching panel.[5] The series premiered on ITV on 4 January 2020 in the 20:30 timeslot.[3]

On 18 March, it was announced by ITV that the live semi-final which was scheduled for Saturday 28 March, would be postponed until later in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The semi-final eventually was aired on 7 November, and the final on 14 November.

Teams

Colour key:

CoachTop 40 Artists
will.i.am
Gevanni HuttonLucy CalcinesDoug SureJohannes PietschBaby SolClaudillea Holloway
So DivaShauna ByrneAlia LaraEvergreenZindzi Thomas
Meghan Trainor
Brooke ScullionTrinity-Leigh CooperOli RossBeryl McCormackBlaize ChinaDarci Wilders
Jordan PhillipsClaudillea HollowayKatie & AoifeHolly ScallyDean John-Wilson
Tom Jones
Jonny BrooksLois MoodieShezArElly O'KeeffeZionSo Diva
Lara GeorgeVivienne IseborShaun SamoniniSean ConnollyLara Anstead
Olly Murs
Blessing ChitapaJordan PhillipsCameo WilliamsCat CavelliAlan ChanTy Lewis
Beryl McCormackBelle NoirBrian CorbettMillie BowellBleu Woodward

Blind auditions

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 (4 January)

ArtistOrderAgeSongCoaches and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
Brooke Scullion120"Bruises"
Adam Howarth227"Losing Man" (original song)
So Diva3Various"Don't Walk Away"
Francisco Iannuzzi430"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?"
Lara George532"Don't Be So Hard on Yourself"
Trinity-Leigh Cooper616"Stone Cold"
Cameo Williams718"Heart of Glass"
ShezAr831"A Deeper Love"

Episode 2 (11 January)

ArtistOrderAgeSongCoaches and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
Blaize China121"Instruction"
Ty Lewis218"When the Party's Over"
Babalola Ehidiamen325"A Change Is Gonna Come"
Baby Sol436"Lullaby Of Birdland"
Lara Anstead526"Say You Love Me"
Jay Harvey638"Woman Trouble"
Katie & Aoife716-16"Chiquitita"
Zion826"Glory"

Episode 3 (18 January)

ArtistOrderAgeSongCoaches and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
Alan Chan140"You Know My Name"
Oli Ross221"Sail"
AK324"Eye of the Tiger"
Doug Sure431"Feels Like Summer"
Belle Noir5Various"Feel It Still"
Jennifer Jamieson626"Wish You Well"
Sean Connolly730"Suddenly"
Gevanni Hutton817"Everybody's Free"

Episode 4 (25 January)

ArtistOrderAgeSongCoaches and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
Jordan Phillips120"Found What I've Been Looking For"
Cat Cavelli229"I Put a Spell on You"
Grant Tuffs329"Sucker"
Brian Corbett429"Give Me Love"
Elly O'Keeffe531"River"
Natalie Good624"Shout Out To My Ex"
Johannes Pietsch718"The Sound of Music"
Lois Moodie821"I Was Here"

Episode 5 (1 February)

ArtistOrderAgeSongCoaches and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
Darci Wilders118"Can't Help Falling in Love"
Lucy Calcines221"Mi Gente"
Priscilla Cameron331"Juice"
Zindzi Thomas431"War Cry"
Julius Cowdrey526"Take Me Home" (original song)
Blessing Chitapa617"I'd Rather Go Blind"
Holly Scally716"Lay Me Down"
Jonny Brooks828"Sweet Thing"

Episode 6 (8 February)

ArtistOrderAgeSongCoaches and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
Bleu Woodward132"You Shook Me All Night Long"
Mollie Scott221"Work It Out"
Vivienne Isebor326"The Weekend"
Alfie Osborne419"On the Loose"
Sally Barrett544"What You're Made Of"
Dean John-Wilson630"Always Remember Us This Way"
Andre Sanchez7"When I Was Your Man"
Rozzandi8"Señorita"
Alia Lara919"How Do You Sleep?"
Beryl McCormack1022"Turning Tables"

Episode 7 (15 February)

ArtistOrderAgeSongCoaches and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
Jamie Deary132"Leave a Light On"
Shaun Samonini233"In Case You Didn't Know"
Shauna Byrne316"If I Can't Have You"
Martina Mennell432"That's Life"
Alex Buckley523"Something"
Evergreen618-19"Big Yellow Taxi"
Claudillea Holloway724"Queen of the Night aria"
Chris Beynon822"Stuck on You"
Millie Bowell923"Titanium"

Battle rounds

Colour key
  Coach hit his/her "I WANT YOU" button
      Artist won the Battle and advanced to the Knockouts
      Artist lost the Battle but was stolen by another coach and advances to the Knockouts
      Artist lost the Battle and was eliminated

Episode 1 (22 February)

OrderCoachArtistsSongCoaches' and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
1Olly MursAlan ChanBleu Woodward"If I Could Turn Back Time"
2will.i.amDoug SureZindzi Thomas"One"
3Sir Tom JonesJonny BrooksLara Anstead"Us"
4Meghan TrainorBlaize ChinaClaudillea Holloway"The Greatest"
5Oli RossDean John-Wilson"Take Me to Church"
6will.i.amJohannes PietschEvergreen"Songbird"
7Olly MursBlessing ChitapaBeryl McCormack"Flying Without Wings"

Episode 2 (29 February)

OrderCoachArtistsSongCoaches' and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
1Meghan TrainorBrooke ScullionJordan Phillips"Water Under the Bridge"
2Sir Tom JonesLois MoodieSean Connolly"Ordinary People"rowspan=6
3Meghan TrainorTrinity-Leigh CooperHolly Scally"Keep Holding On"
4will.i.amLucy CalcinesAlia Lara"Bounce Back"
5Sir Tom JonesElly O'KeeffeShaun Samonini"I Lived"
6Olly MursTy LewisMillie Bowell"If the World Was Ending"
7Sir Tom JonesZionVivienne Isebor"My Love Is Your Love"

Episode 3 (7 March)

OrderCoachArtistsSongCoaches' and artists choices
will.i.amMeghanTomOlly
1will.i.amBaby SolSo Diva"My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)"rowspan=7
2Meghan TrainorDarci WildersKatie & Aoife"I Want It That Way"rowspan=6
3Sir Tom JonesShezArLara George"Young Hearts Run Free"
4Olly MursCameo WilliamsBrian Corbett"Eternal Flame"
5Cat CavelliBelle Noir"Dance Monkey"
6will.i.amGevanni HuttonShauna Byrne"Imagine"

Knockouts

Episode 1 (14 March)

OrderCoachArtistSongResult
1Sir Tom JonesSo Diva"End of Time"Eliminated
2Jonny Brooks"Don't Let Me Down"Advanced
3Zion"Pray"Eliminated
1Olly MursCat Cavelli"Careless Whisper"
2Jordan Phillips"Rapture"Advanced
3Cameo Williams"Wicked Game"Eliminated
1will.i.amGevanni Hutton"People Help the People"Advanced
2Claudillea Holloway"Paint It Black"Eliminated
3Baby Sol"Blackbird"
1Meghan TrainorBlaize China"Light It Up"
2Darci Wilders"Angel"
3Trinity-Leigh Cooper"You Say"Advanced

Episode 2 (21 March)

OrderCoachArtistSongResult
1Sir Tom JonesShezAr"With a Little Help from My Friends"Eliminated
2Elly O'Keeffe"Halo"
3Lois Moodie"Battlefield"Advanced
1Meghan TrainorBrooke Scullion"Stay"
2Beryl McCormack"Because You Loved Me"Eliminated
3Oli Ross"Hurt"
1Olly MursAlan Chan"Crazy Horses"
2Ty Lewis"I'm So Tired..."
3Blessing Chitapa"We Won't Move"Advanced
1will.i.amLucy Calcines"Attention"
2Johannes Pietsch"The Winner Takes It All"Eliminated
3Doug Sure"Don't Watch Me Cry"Saved by Lifeline vote

Live shows

Results summary

Team's colour key
  • Team Will
  • Team Meghan
  • Team Tom
  • Team Olly
    Result's colour key
  • Artist received the most public votes
  • Artist received the fewest votes and was eliminated
    Contestant! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18%;"
    Week 1Week 2
    Round 1Round 2
    Blessing ChitapaSafeSafeWinner
    Jonny BrooksSafeSafeRunner-up
    Brooke ScullionSafeEliminatedEliminated
    (Week 2)
    Gevanni HuttonSafeEliminated
    Doug SureEliminatedEliminated
    (Week 1)
    Jordan PhillipsEliminated
    Lois MoodieEliminated
    Lucy CalcinesEliminated
    Trinity-Leigh CooperEliminated

    Week 1: Semi-final (7 November)

    OrderCoachArtistSongResult
    1Olly MursJordan Phillips"Power Over Me"Eliminated
    2Sir Tom JonesLois Moodie"Who You Are"
    3Meghan TrainorTrinity-Leigh Cooper"Lose You to Love Me"
    4will.i.amDoug Sure"Nice for What"
    5Meghan TrainorBrooke Scullion"Nothing Breaks Like a Heart"Advanced
    6will.i.amGevanni Hutton"Many Rivers to Cross"
    7Sir Tom JonesJonny Brooks"Million Reasons"
    8will.i.amLucy Calcines"Problem"Eliminated
    9Olly MursBlessing Chitapa"Without You"Advanced

    Week 2: Final (14 November)

    Group performance: The Voice UK coaches - "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (All coaches except Meghan Trainor)

    OrderCoachArtistFirst songOrderDuet (with Coach)OrderWinners singleResult
    1Meghan TrainorBrooke Scullion"Edge of Seventeen"6"Giant" (with Ella Eyre)N/AN/AEliminated
    2will.i.am Gevanni Hutton"You've Got a Friend"7"No Woman, No Cry"N/AN/AEliminated
    3Sir Tom JonesJonny Brooks"Falling"5"Drift Away"9"Torn"Runner-up
    4Olly MursBlessing Chitapa"Before I Go"8"Hold Back the River"10"Angels"Winner

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Pearce . Tilly . Meghan Trainor confirmed to replace Jennifer Hudson as judge on The Voice UK . 18 October 2019 . . 26 September 2019.
    2. News: Meghan Trainor to replace Jennifer Hudson on The Voice UK as Dreamgirls star quits show . 18 October 2019 . . 27 September 2019.
    3. News: Meghan Trainor explains why joining The Voice UK was 'intimidating' . 27 December 2019 . . 27 December 2019.
    4. News: Tonks . Andrea . Tom Jones: The Voice UK star seen with new coach Meghan Trainor after Jennifer Hudson exit . 18 October 2019 . . 15 October 2019.
    5. News: Edwards . Chris . The Voice UK trailer gives coaches Olly Murs and will.i.am unexpected new looks . 27 December 2019 . . 6 December 2019.
    6. News: Coronavirus: BBC and ITV revamp broadcast plans amid outbreak . BBC News . BBC . 18 March 2020 . 18 March 2020.
    7. Web site: The Voice UK Final Start Time. 13 Nov 2020.