Will.i.am is officially returning to The Voice as a coach when it returns to ITV next year. The This is Love singer will also be coaching The Voice Kids, which also comes to ITV in 2017.
The 41-year-old said: "I'm delighted to be continuing The Voice UK on ITV and being a voice of direction and guidance for the usual suspects, and I’m thrilled to add The Voice Kids to the mix…I know The Voice switched to ITV, but I'm not going to BREXIT The Voice UK. I'm happy to make ITV my home now. I love the UK."
Will.i.am has acted as a coach on the singing competition since 2011. Although he is the first coach confirmed for the new series, Will has previously stated that he only planned to return should his former coaches Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue and Tom Jones were to join too. He told the Mirror: Will told the Mirror: "I would only return if Tom and Jessie J come back, and Danny. Then yeah, I'm back next year.
"If they did the originals then, woah, that would be different."
The head of entertainment at ITV, Siobhan Greene, said they were "thrilled" to have Will on board.
"We are thrilled to bits that will.i.am’s signed up to ITV for The Voice UK and The Voice Kids," She said.
"He's such an important part of the DNA of the show and that was one of the many reasons we had to have him in his chair. Will's eye for talent, and unique and creative flair for mentoring means we can't wait to see what happens next."
The star will be joining Emma Willis, who has also been confirmed to be hosting The Voice and The Voice Kids. Speaking of the competition to see younger acts perform, Emma said: "Hosting The Voice Kids will be like being at my house on a Saturday night; lots of kids singing, with me trying to keep some kind of order. Thankfully, the musical genius that is will.i.am is there to bring some expertise to the table. It's going to be pretty awesome."
