Emma Willis became a talking point among The Voice UK viewers as the ITV series returned following a week off air. The hit competition series was replaced on television schedules last week, but returned this evening at a slightly later start time of 8.50pm, straight after Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One.
Back-to-back appearances spark social media reaction
Some fans who had watched the presenter on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing switched channels to find her fronting another talent competition. The back-to-back appearances prompted many amused posts on social media, with many pouring in within moments of The Voice UK getting under way.
One viewer wrote on X: "Bit of Emma Willis overkill this evening #Strictly #TheVoice." Another posted: "Oh cmon do we really need see EmmaWillis on itv and bbc at the same f**** time. Is she the only presenter available!"
Fans praise Emma's presenting role
A third joked: "Emma Willis running from Elstree to #TheVoiceUK studios!" However, one person praised: " Emma Willis taking over Saturday night tv feels very overdue - glad she has finally got one of the bigger presenting gigs."
There was, however, no dash between the two programmes. Strictly's second live episode was broadcast that evening, while the current series of The Voice UK was filmed last year.
Emma's final episodes on The Voice UK
Emma was announced earlier this year as a Strictly co-presenter alongside Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. Their first live broadcast took place the previous weekend, when The Voice was absent from the schedules because of programming changes, reports Wales Online.
The ITV show returned on Saturday, 3 October, at the revised time of 8.50pm, with the final round of blind auditions. Dressed in pink, Emma introduced the episode by saying: "It's the final round of the blind auditions and the coaches' last shots to complete their teams."
She then welcomed Sir Tom Jones, Kelly Rowland, will.i.am, Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher to their red chairs. With eight places remaining on each team, the coaches had more decisions to make as a fresh group of singers tried to secure a spot.
Departure announced after years of hosting
The latest episodes also mark the closing chapter of Emma's time hosting The Voice UK. She has presented the competition since 2014, but her departure has already been announced. Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon are set to take over presenting duties for the next series, but for some, it will be the end of an era when Emma leaves along with Sir Tom Jones and McFly's Tom and Danny.
One person wrote on X: "Emma, Sir Tom & Danny are very much going to be missed. Might as well cancel it now." Emma, 50, will also return to ITV for the sixth series of Cooking With the Stars, which she hosts alongside Tom Allen. The Voice UK can also be streamed on ITVX.
