'The Voice' Ready For A New Era, With The New Season Kicking Off Tonight

The Voice is back, and with an almost entirely new line-up too, as the BBC's returning singing contest hopes to come back with a bang and establish itself as a favourite with the British viewing public. Having suffered in the ratings in the last season, BBC bosses are hoping that the shake-up on the show will reinvigorate it's formula and turn the show into the country's top-rated reality contest.

The new judging panel [L - R]: Will.i.am, Rick Wilson, Kylie Minogue and Sir Tom Jones

Kylie Minogue and Ricky Wilson join the judge's panel, taking up the spots vacated by the departing Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue, and previous hosts Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates have been replaced too, with Emma Willis and former JLS star Marvin Humes fronting the show this time around. The question is, will this shake up be enough to see the show surpass The X Factor as the nation's favourite singing contest? And can the show actually produce any stars this time?

"Because we live in this disposable, forgetful society, we forget real fast," returning judge will.i.am told the BBC ahead of Saturday's episode. "You have to have a champion and this format doesn't really have a champion when it comes to the record company end. So after the season's finished, who's holding the singers through this tundra?"

Emma Willis and Marvin Humes are the show's new hosts

Next Page: the new judges prime themselves to life in the red chairs

Kylie Minogue has been speaking with the BBC ahead of her debut on the show and although the task seemed daunting at first, the Aussie singer is sure that she is ready to fill Jessie J's boots. Although initially feeling as though her ascension to the red swivel chair was like a "baptism of fire," she feels totally ready for whatever the new challenge has to offer.

Kylie and Ricky are ready for their new challenge on The Voice

"It's so totally different being in the chair and not seeing anything - it's really intense, but the fun parts are really fun," the veteran entertainer said at the launch of the show. "I think Jessie did a great job and especially for someone so young. I hope [she] enjoys seeing me in her seat and I'm very proud to be taking over the reins from her."

Ricky Wilson on the other hand sees his first foray at becoming a 'TV personality' as a chance to impose himself as a worthy success to The Script frontman, but will ensure that he succeeds him and doesn't just fit into the Irishman's place as a like-for-like copy. He joked, "I can't wear those low slung t-shirts," after admitting that he wasn't sure if he'd enjoy being on the show at first, an opinion that was quickly changed. He said, "If you'd asked me then and there I would have said: 'This is hell', but looking back it's one of those things where now I'm going: 'It was great wasn't it'."

The Voice returns to BBC1 on Saturday, 11 January at at 7.00 pm.

Tom can't wait to get started on The Voice again