The Voice UK is set to return to TV screens later this month after having to pause filming due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Seven months after having to postpone the live semi-final and grand finale, ITV have now announced that a winner will finally be crowned.
However there will be some noticeable changes, as coach Meghan Trainor will be superimposed on her seat from Los Angeles and there will not be a studio audience.
It’s back! The Voice UK is set to return to TV screens later this month with the coach Meghan Trainor (pictured) being superimposed onto her red chair from Los Angeles
Meghan revealed that she will appear on the show from LA, superimposed onto her chair to join fellow Coaches Sir Tom Jones, Olly Murs and will.i.am.
She said: ‘I’m so sorry that I can’t travel and be there in person for the end of Season nine. I’m excited that the show is finally back and I will be there virtually to support my incredible team!’
Ahead of the semi-final and final a special catch up show will be screened to remind the audience at home of the story so far.
And to really get viewers in the mood, from Saturday October 3rd the entire series to date will be available on the ITV Hub.
Competition: The semi-final and final will be pre-recorded in the coming weeks and feature virtual audiences (pictured the four coaches – will.i.am, Meghan, Tom Jones and Olly Murs)
The final instalments of the series will both be pre-recorded in the coming weeks and take place with virtual audiences beamed onto screens in the studio.
Still hoping to be crowned champion are nine acts. Team Tom consists of Jonny Brooks and Lois Moodie while Team Olly boasts Jordan Phillips and Blessing Chitapa.
Team Will is made up of Gevanni Hutton, Lucy Calcines and the public’s lifeline winner Doug Sure and Meghan’s team includes Trinity-Leigh Cooper and Brooke Scullion.
They will all be singing in the semi-final, hoping to make the final four. At the semi-final the four coaches will each select one of their acts to go through to the final.
Show time: Doug Sure, who is part of Team Will, will finally get to perform for his chance at a spot in the final
Stellar: Finalist Brooke Scullion is also in the running for winning the TV show
The show’s winner will then be decided by the virtual audience, watching the grand final from home. That lucky singer be awarded the prize of a recording contract with Universal’s label UMOD.
ITV were forced to postpone The Voice UK’s live semi-final and final in March, just days before the UK was placed on lockdown.
An ITV representative confirmed to MailOnline at the time: ‘We are in a developing and dynamic situation so we’re complying with the guidance from Public Health England and the World Health Organisation to make sure we keep everyone as safe and secure as possible.
‘We have taken the difficult decision to postpone The Voice UK Semi-Final and Final until later this year.
Back in business: Although a date for the show airing has not been confirmed, from Saturday October 3rd the series to date will be on the ITV Hub (presenter Emma Willis is pictured)
‘We will continue to monitor the situation and announce a new date for these shows, which were due on air on the 28th March and 4th April, in due course.’
However the finalists have kept themselves busy during the gap in filming, with them joining forces to record a charity single to raise money for NHS workers.
Finalist Brooke Scullion told MailOnline in May they decided to show appreciation for the National Health Service by recording a cover of Stevie Wonder’s As.
In the video, the stars recorded their parts of the song over Zoom before they were combined to create the moving video.
Coach: Olly Murs will be back on the show alongside Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am while Meghan is superimposed onto her chair for the performances
Band Belle Noir rounded up the finalists to sing a rendition of the Stevie Wonder classic, and asked fans to donate to a Just Giving page to raise funds for the NHS.
Speaking ahead of the single’s release Brooke said: ‘Whilst we’re all eager to get back on The Voice stage for the Semi Finals, this is a great way for us to all come together from our own homes and show our support for NHS workers and all the amazing work they’re doing, they’re true heroes!’
Brooke said she was in constant contact with the production team about when filming can resume.
She said: ‘They said “we aim to be doing the semi-final in summer.” But who knows? It could be Christmas but think of the Christmas hits, you could be singing!’
The Voice UK will return to TV screens later in October, with all episodes available on the the ITV Hub from Saturday October 3.
Staying busy: During lockdown The Voice UK finalists joined forces to record a charity single to raise money for NHS workers in the COVID-19 crisis