The Voice UK is set to introduce a new rewind button in its upcoming 14th season, giving coaches the chance to reconsider performers who left the stage without earning a single chair turn. The twist has drawn reactions from the coaching panel, including new coach Kelly Rowland, who called it "dangerous."
New coach and new feature
The singing competition returns later this month, with Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland joining Tom Jones, will.i.am, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones as a coach. She replaces country singer LeAnn Rimes, who departed after one season. A promotional trailer previously hinted at her arrival, showing a mystery coach arriving for a blind audition.
Alongside the lineup change, the ITV show is introducing the rewind button during auditions. According to Wales Online, coaches will face the dilemma of whether to use it to bring back a performer who already left without any chair turns.
Coaches share their verdicts
Host Emma Willis said: "I think it's always a good idea to bring in fresh elements to keep a format like ours evolving. Having sat in those chairs myself, I know the pressure the coaches can feel. There are times when you finish a round and regret not spinning. This acts as a nice little safety net for them."
Tom Jones gave a four-word response, saying: "It's a good addition," before adding: "To have the power to offer a second chance is a great thing." Danny Jones called it "a total game-changer," saying: "It's brilliant because it gives us that extra bit of power to right a wrong." Tom Fletcher remarked: "We've all had those moments where we've watched a performance back and thought, 'What were we doing? !' So, it's a great safety net and is guaranteed to make things more interesting."
Impact on the competition
Kelly Rowland confessed: "That button is dangerous! Because as a coach, you're constantly thinking about the artists you didn't turn for and wondering, 'Did I get that one wrong?' Everyone loves a second chance and I do too."
The new feature is expected to change the dynamic of the contest, which previously left viewers frustrated when promising contestants failed to secure a single chair turn. The Voice UK returns to ITV1 and ITVX on Saturday, August 22.
