The Voice to have more blind auditions in second series - BBC News

There will be more blind auditions and fewer live shows in the new series of The Voice.

BBC bosses think the format will improve its viewing figures.

The show pulled in strong audiences during its early stages for the first series, particularly when the coaches were choosing contenders with their spinning seats.

But ratings dropped as the series went on.

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We're going to do fewer live shows, we're going to do more blind auditions, more battles that's the fundamental difference

Danny Cohen BBC One controller

An 11-date tour, featuring performances by the BBC One talent show's eight finalists, was also cancelled following poor ticket sales.

BBC One controller Danny Cohen confirmed the next series would see some format changes.

He said: "We're going to do fewer live shows, we're going to do more blind auditions, more battles that's the fundamental difference."

The BBC has already announced that all four coaches - Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, Jessie J and The Script's Danny O'Donoghue - have signed up for the show when it comes back next year.

Jessie J agreed a further series despite announcing in her autobiography that she would not return.

Despite poor viewing figures towards the end of the last series, the show is still said to be BBC One's biggest new entertainment show on record, with an average 9.2 million viewers across the series, including viewers on catch-up.