Alesha Dixon immediately defended Cheryl Tweedy during filming for Britain's Got Talent in Blackpool after a contestant attempted to criticise the Girls Aloud singer's vocal abilities. The Sun reports that Dixon hit back instantly, pressing her red buzzer halfway through the hopeful's act and using her feedback to make her position clear.
"You don't come after a mate of mine," Dixon fumed. Dixon is currently a judge on the ITV talent show, but next year she will take on a new role as co-host of The Voice UK alongside Stacey Solomon, replacing Emma Willis.
The Voice UK Line-Up Shake-Up
The Voice UK, which also airs on ITV, has undergone a major shake-up, with longstanding coach Sir Tom Jones axed. Will.i.am will be returning alongside Kelly Rowland, with Cheryl Tweedy joining the panel alongside rapper Aitch. Dixon has already formed a strong bond with Cheryl.
Although fans won't see Cheryl in her full-time coaching role until next year, she appeared during the Battles Round of the ITV competition earlier this month. During the episode, Will revealed that he had been trying to get Cheryl to join him for the past 13 years.
Cheryl's Return to Television
Cheryl knows what it takes to succeed in the music industry, having found fame after being selected for Girls Aloud on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. Speaking to Team Will, she said: "I'm so excited for you. You couldn't be in better hands than you are with my man Will. Will and I have collaborated a lot over the years, so we know what it's like for two very different artists to come together. I wish you all the very best for what you've got today, and I'm excited to see you all!"
Reflecting on her own experience, Cheryl said during a solo interview: "I have stood in the shoes that the contestants are standing in, and I know what it feels like to perform in this environment. You've just got to know that you're good, or you wouldn't be here."
Cheryl's decision to sign up for the show marks a return to television after a lengthy break from the spotlight. In recent years, she has focused on family life and taken on brief work spells, including her West End debut in 2:22 A Ghost Story. While she once became the first female artist to have five records debut at Number One, her last single, Let You, was released in 2019 and peaked at Number 57 on the Official Charts Company.
