Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon are to take over as hosts of The Voice UK as part of a significant revamp announced by ITV. The pair will replace Emma Willis, who has presented the singing competition since 2014 but recently departed to front the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. The broadcaster has also confirmed that singer Cheryl and Manchester rapper Aitch will join the coaching panel, sitting in the show's iconic giant red chairs alongside returning coaches Kelly Rowland and Will.I.Am.
The changes mark a substantial shift for the talent show, which has been a fixture on ITV since moving from the BBC in 2017. According to ITV's official announcement, the new line-up will debut in Series 15, with filming scheduled to commence in Manchester around 11 September 2026. The current series, which was recorded in 2025, continues to air on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 7pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
The reshuffle comes after Sir Tom Jones, who has been a coach on the show since its inception, revealed he had been offered a significantly reduced role. On Wednesday, the 86-year-old Welsh singer stated in a statement that he had been presented with a
"much-reduced role" on the series, which he was "not thrilled about". He attributed the decision to what he described as
"a financial difficulty with insurance", though ITV subsequently framed the change as part of a broader refresh of the coaching panel.
In response to Jones's departure, ITV released a statement expressing gratitude:
"ITV would like to thank the irreplaceable Sir Tom Jones for all his years on The Voice UK, and the countless incredible and unforgettable moments he gave the show. He has brought joy to audiences, and to every singer who performed for him and with him."The network also thanked Emma Willis, Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones—who had shared a coaching chair as joint mentors for the previous two series—for their contributions to the programme.
Who are the new hosts and coaches?
Alesha Dixon rose to prominence as a member of girl group Mis-Teeq before establishing herself as a television personality. She has served as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing and Britain's Got Talent, and previously hosted The Greatest Dancer and the Eurovision Song Contest when the UK hosted the competition in Liverpool in 2023. Stacey Solomon came second on The X Factor in 2009 and is now recognised for hosting Sort Your Life Out and appearing on the reality series Stacey & Joe alongside her husband Joe Swash.
Cheryl, who launched her career with pop group Girls Aloud and achieved several chart successes as a solo artist, brings extensive judging experience having served on ITV's The X Factor during its peak years in the late 2000s. She has also recorded multiple songs with Will.I.Am, one of the show's longest-serving coaches. Aitch, the Manchester-born rapper whose hits include Rain, Baby, War and Taste (Make It Shake), completes the new coaching line-up.
ITV described the assembled panel as
"Fusing legendary industry experience with a vibrant competitive spirit, our latest panel of icons is ready to discover and celebrate the most remarkable and exciting vocal talent emerging from every corner of the country."Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny's Child, will continue as a coach, as will Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas, who has been part of the show since its first series.
What happened to Emma Willis?
Emma Willis departs The Voice UK after nine years at the helm to take on a new role presenting the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. According to BBC reporting, Willis will front the new series alongside comedian Josh Widdicombe and dancer Johannes Radebe, replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed at the end of the previous series. She will begin her Strictly duties on 19 September.
Willis will continue to appear on The Voice UK for the remainder of the current series, as it was recorded in 2025. This means viewers will see her hosting two different Saturday night prime-time shows this autumn—one for ITV and one for BBC One—a rare occurrence in British television scheduling.
Why did Sir Tom Jones leave?
Sir Tom Jones's departure from The Voice UK remains somewhat contentious. The veteran coach stated that he had been offered a reduced role and was
"not thrilled about"the proposal. He explained that
"The reason given is because of a financial difficulty with insurance,"and added:
"They now say in the press they wanted to 'refresh' the show, and with a new coaching line-up there wouldn't be a chair for me."
Jones concluded his statement with a pointed remark:
"The only thing I know right now is that there's never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who's still pretty good at his job."According to earlier reporting, ITV has not publicly confirmed the insurance explanation Jones provided, though the network indicated that discussions with Jones and his representatives about possible future involvement were continuing.
What is the history of The Voice UK?
The Voice launched its UK version in 2012, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Reggie Yates, following the format's success in the United States. Emma Willis assumed presenting duties in 2014 and was joined for several series by Marvin Humes of boyband JLS. The show relocated from the BBC to ITV in 2017, where it has remained since.
The format distinguishes itself from other singing competitions by having coaches face away from contestants during auditions. If a coach appreciates a contestant's voice, they can spin their chair around to reveal the performer's identity and offer mentorship throughout the series. Over the years, the UK version has featured numerous high-profile coaches including Olly Murs, Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora, Anne Marie and LeAnn Rimes.
What happens next?
The current series of The Voice UK will continue airing on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 7pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Filming for Series 15 with the new coaching and hosting line-up is expected to begin immediately in Manchester around 11 September 2026, ensuring continuity in production as the show enters its next chapter under fresh creative direction.
