‘The Voice’ judge Boy George brought filming for the BBC reality talent show to a halt by making the sensational claim that he once slept with Prince!

The ‘80s pop star and Culture Club singer is reported to have sent BBC production staff into such a frenzy that the shoot, in front of a studio audience, had to be temporarily shut down in the wake of the jaw-dropping claim, according to The Sun.

A source told the paper that the 54 year old singer’s revelation “sent the audience absolutely wild and forced producers to stop filming”.

Boy GeorgeBoy George with Marilyn earlier in October 2015

Boy George, real name George Alan O’Dowd, made the claim after he and fellow new judge Paloma Faith (who reportedly have been locking horns throughout filming with various disagreements) had another one of their cagey back-and-forths.

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“I have duetted with some of the greatest soul singers in history including Luther Vandross and Smokey Robinson,” George began while summing up the performance of one of the show’s wannabe contestants. Attempting to outdo this, Paloma said: “Well OK, if we’re throwing big soul names out there I’ve performed with Prince.”

“Forget that, darling, I’ve slept with Prince,” George said dismissively. Cue stunned disbelief amongst the onlookers – except the other two judges Will.i.am and Ricky Wilson, who thought it was hilarious and high-fived Boy George.

“We just couldn’t believe what he had come out with – and the guys in the gallery were beside themselves,” the source continued. Sensing controversy, producers soon stopped recording. “Production staff had to come up on stage and speak to them. After that, Boy George started backtracking saying he hadn’t really slept with Prince and that in reality, he just had his poster on his wall.”

Well, whether it’s true or not, it’s certainly stoked a bit more interest for season five of ‘The Voice’, which many pundits have criticised in the past for a lack of edge. The show returns in January 2016.

More: Judges Paloma Faith and Boy George reportedly clash during ‘The Voice’ auditions