How’s it been getting back to The Voice Kids? What’s the best part of returning?
You know I love this show so much. I get excited every time. I think the best part about it – especially in the times we are now in – is seeing these kids doing something they really love and doing it really well. It gives us all positive energy this show.
How is Melanie C settling in?
Melanie is amazing. She is my new favourite person. She’s great, she slotted in like she’d been doing it for the whole five series.
What has the talent been like this year?
I just can’t describe it. Without wanting to sound clichéd – I’m not normally lost for words but there are a couple of battles where I felt so overwhelmed, so blown away. I felt I had so many things to say about them but I just couldn’t get them all out. I had so much to say it almost made me panic! I was both trying to control my reaction and trying to tell them how amazing they are. My ears couldn’t believe what they’d just witnessed. What is also amazing about it is that you can’t tell the age difference. It’s almost getting to the point where I’m jealous of them all because they’re too good! I’ve said to them stop being so good! The level is just going up and up and up…
Each year does always seem to be even better than the year before. Do you think these kids have been watching previous series and learning from those kids?
Oh yes and the way you have to coach adapts as well. They’ve watched the show before and they almost know what you’re going to say.
They definitely come in prepared so things I’ve told previous teams – getting in the zone, having belief, certain technical things – they’re coming in with that. I had to get to the point where I now talk to them as if we were a band. We’re talking pro tips. That’s where I’m at this year. It’s tested me as a coach this time round, I’ve learnt something about myself definitely.
But you do find the right things to say to them and the kids always take it so well…
I’ve said to my team no matter what this is not an ending, this is a beginning. It’s a very bright beginning for you all so don’t look at it as not getting through and it’s the end. It’s just a part of this process but you’re at the start of something really exciting so look at it that way.
Tell us about your team…
My team is full of individuals. They all have their own style, their own sound, their own delivery, their own path that they want to go on so it’s interesting to see that. I don’t think I’ve ever had that where they’re all on a par with each other in terms of their skill level and that individual. That’s what I’m finding really really exciting about my team this year.
Is it fun having the show at Christmas this time round?
It is! Christmas is all about kids. Kids singing and kids singing Christmas songs makes it even more spectacular. There’s not many times you get to hear Christmas songs sang this well by kids. We may see choirs and carol singers at Christmas time but to have these kids, in this setting with a professional band behind them on a really big stage – it’s pretty magical.
How has it been back performing on that stage alongside the other Coaches?
Well, Melanie C or should we call her Melanie Sleigh?! She arrives on a sleigh! Yeah, our performances are good fun. Christmas is all about having fun and I feel like we do that. As Coaches on this we’re always having fun.
What in your opinion is the greatest Christmas song of all time?
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town because it’s classic – you can do it in different ways. From Bublé to Springsteen to Bing Crosby. You can do it in many different ways and it makes you feel good when you hear it.
