Tom Jones and Jessie J spill the beans on The Voice

A couple of weeks ago I was at the launch of the BBC’s answer to X Factor ‘The Voice’, due to hit our screens this month.

Actually, they would probably have my guts for garters for putting the two in the same category as its billed as hunt for “real singing talent”, not a freak show of oddballs the X-Factor has become infamous for.

It is due to air next week (March 24) on BBC1, and with my showbiz journalist pals, I went for a chat with the stars and producers.

After the launch we were allowed to give only the scantest details of the show and were sworn to secrecy about the rest, like what the stars really think of each other, were there any fights, who is going to be the nasty one ........until  now.

Well, in answer to the final question, there isn’t going to be a nasty one. This is a serious hunt for talent without the sniping and back-biting that X-Factor has become infamous for.

That’s according to the stars in question, Jessie J insisted they were not there to bicker and fight, but to uncover and nurture a real singing talent.

“There are no tantrums or tempers,” she said.

Question two –there were no fights, this is because the show has one aim, to find the UK’s next great voice. It is not going to be about watching cat fights and hissy fits between judges.

Speaking of which, the artists will be chosen and mentored by four of the most successful figures in the music industry headed by Welsh legend Sir Tom Jones.

He will be joined by Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am, 36, The Script singer Danny O’Donoghue, 31, and chart-topper Jessie J, 23.

The show will be hosted by Holly Willoughby, 30, and Reggie Yates, 28.

I was interested in what it was like working with the legendary Tom Jones, and I asked Holly if she didn’t think he was a bit, well “Dadsy” for this sort of show?

“Not at all,” she told me. “In fact Jessie calls him Tommo.”

“There is this sort of respect that the other coaches have for him, he is lovely.”

The show takes the format of three stages: the Blind Auditions, the Battles, and the Live Shows.

During the Blind Auditions the coaches select artists while seated with their backs to them.

If they are impressed they push a button to rotate their chair, at the end of the round the contestant chooses the mentor they want.

After the coaches have teams in place they battle for positions in the finals by pitting two of their own acts against each other each week.

After each performance  in front of  studio audience, the coach chooses the artist to take through to the live shows.

During the final stage, artists sing live and their performance is put up for a public vote before The Voice is named in the final week.

The winning act will win a recording contract.

The blind auditions, which have already taken place, will be shown from next Saturday.

All the mentors believe they have found “exceptional talent” who will go on to win the show.

Sir Tom, 71 said: “I believe I have found a star.

“She moves me with her voice, and that’s what I’m looking for.

“A lot of performance these days is all about the production value, but people are seeing so much they are not really listening.

“This is completely different, and I think the contestants feel that as well.

“From the start we are listening without seeing the person, so it is all about the voice.”

Jessie J said she took the role because the title “says it all”.

She said: “For me, it has always been about the music, and the voice, and always will be.”

Will.i.am said working with Cheryl Cole on the X Factor set him in good stead for the show.

He said: “I got experience from mentoring with Cheryl on the X Factor and have mentored with all three in the past.

“I think the show is going to be a huge success.”

Saturday, March 24, you heard it here first.