Voice comparisons 'cause problems' says Danny O'Donoghue

Coaches from The Voice have said there is no point comparing its format with other TV talent shows.

Script frontman Danny O'Donoghue said: "We're a singing show, we are not an entertainment show."

He added that he hoped the press would concentrate on the talent that the show showcases, rather than comparing it to other prime time programmes.

"I think getting into a race between what's the better show, I think we are all going to lose on that," he said.

Second series

The new series of the show is due to air on BBC One from 30 March, with changes to the format after criticism over series one.

He added that "part of the problem last year was being put up against other talent shows."

Series one was also criticised for falling ratings when coaches stopped picking contestants with their spinning chairs.

On instruction from BBC One Controller Danny Cohen, producers have extended that part, included more battles and added in a "steal", where coaches can take a contestant from another coach.

Rapper will.i.am had different ideas on what the ratings drop was due to: "It was nice weather when the viewings dropped. I'm glad there were weather things that we could fall back on, and let people know why the viewings dropped.

"I really don't think it was the show, I really think it was because the sun was out and people wanted to be outside. That's what I am saying in my head. So I am just praying for rain."

The show is said to be the channel's biggest new entertainment programme on record, despite falling viewing figures. 9.2 million people watched it, including catch-up.

Sir Tom Jones said that the first series was almost like a dress rehearsal: "When you go into anything new, that's the way it feels.

"You don't know how it is going to work, you don't know whether it's going to work anyway, you don't know what's going to happen.

Mark Lyndsey, who is the controller of Entertainment commissioning for the BBC, said: "I think any primetime Saturday night show the pressure is always there for it to do well.

"The first series did extraordinarily well for a first new series on BBC One. It did average over nine million people per episode, so that's a really good amount of people enjoying a Saturday night show on BBC One."

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