Welsh singer Cate McHugh has won The Voice UK 2026, taking the title after the grand final on ITV1. Representing Team Tom Jones, she secured the £50,000 cash prize, a recording contract with Universal Music Group and a holiday to Universal Orlando Resort in Florida.
McHugh, from Llantwit Major, beat three other finalists: Monique Nicholson-Porter from Team Kelly Rowland, Naná Aldrin-Quaye from Team will.i.am, and Frank Raven, mentored by McFly stars Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones. This year's winner was decided by the audience present during filming, not by a pre-recorded vote, which drew some criticism online during the broadcast.
Blind Audition Success
McHugh impressed judges during her blind audition with a performance of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' track 'Die With A Smile', prompting Sir Tom Jones to press his button and turn his chair. During the audition, she spoke openly about living with Stargardt disease, a degenerative macular condition. She lost her vision to the condition aged 22 but has continued her singing career.
One day while performing in Cardiff Bay, McHugh noticed The Voice UK was seeking applicants for the forthcoming series. She applied on impulse and was later invited to audition before judges Kelly Rowland, Will.i.am, Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones and Sir Tom Jones.
Meeting Sir Tom Jones
Speaking about her experience, McHugh described stepping onto the stage as unlike anything she had experienced before. She said: "Walking out onto the stage for my blind audition is like no other stage that I've been on to date. TV isn't something I'm experienced in. I love gigging, I've been doing that for years. But that stage with the lights, it's just really different, really bright, and I couldn't see anything, so they walked me out to where I needed to be, and I was just hoping I was pointed in the right way."
She revealed that within the studio, there is no audible sound when the chairs rotate, only a light signal. She sensed a subtle change in the light but remained unaware of who had turned for her until Sir Tom Jones delivered his feedback. Following her audition, Sir Tom likened her to the all-time greats, stating: "You've been blessed with a wonderful voice. If you're short-sighted, you're not short-voiced."
Living with Stargardt Disease
McHugh's condition means her vision has deteriorated gradually, leaving her with blurred patches and only her peripheral vision intact. She said: "Losing my sight whilst I was already a professional singer was a moment where I had to think, am I going to be able to do this going forward or is this where we decide to pivot on the career? But I'm quite stubborn, so I decided, 'no, we're going to go for it, we're going to see what happens, and what will be, will be.'"
She explained that her mother has the same condition, and watching her cope with it meant there wasn't the fear many people experience when told they will lose their sight. Following her audition, viewers contacted her to express how wonderful it was to see representation of visual impairment on television, with people thanking her for showing that such conditions don't have to stop people pursuing their dreams.
Working with a Legend
McHugh described collaborating with Sir Tom Jones, saying: "Loads of people are asking me if Tom Jones is as lovely as he seems, which he absolutely is. He is just like, Welsh granddad vibes, he's lovely." She added that he preached "live in the moment, sing in the moment" and shared stories about his time with Chuck Berry during preparations for the battles round.
Having grown up in Llantwit Major and launched her singing career at 16 busking outside the NatWest on Queen Street in Cardiff, McHugh said she always believed she was destined to become a professional singer. She said: "It's always something that I've known about myself, that my voice is how I want to tell my story, and singing is something I could never not do." Her victory came as the show bade goodbye to Sir Tom Jones, who is departing after serving as a judge on and off since 2012.
