Singer Rita Ora will join BBC1’s The Voice in the chair left vacant by Kylie Minogue in the next series of the Saturday night talent show.
The Hot Right Now singer, who had had a brief guest stint as a judge on ITV rival The X Factor, joins returning Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson and regulars Will.i.am and Tom Jones.
Minogue quit the show, known for its spinning red chairs, after one series earlier this year. Although her arrival garnered lots of publicity, the last live final of The Voice was watched by fewer than 7 million viewers in April this year, down on both the previous two series.
Will.ia.m and Jones remain the only two panellists from the show’s first run in 2012, which also featured Jessie J and The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue.
The Voice, a Dutch format bought by the BBC three years ago, has been a moderate-sized hit for BBC1 without ever breaking into the big league of Saturday night shows such as The X Factor and BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing.
ITV’s decision last week not to go ahead with another overseas talent format, Rising Star, after it flopped overseas, indicates how difficult it is to find a hit.
Ora, who will begin filming her new role at the show’s blind auditions next month, and will be seen on TV when the new series begins in January, said: “So excited to be part of, and for my team to win, The Voice this series. Let’s have some fun.”
The presenter lineup will remain as Emma Willis and Marvin Humes, after the duo made their debut on the show earlier this year.
BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore said: “Rita Ora has a unique sense of style and her no-nonsense attitude will really mix things up on the spinning chairs alongside Will.i.am, Sir Tom and Ricky.”
• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email media@theguardian.com or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly “for publication”.
• To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook.
