Emma Willis's Saturday Night Dominance Fails to Boost The Voice Ratings Amidst Sir Tom Jones Backlash
The presenter's extensive airtime across two major shows coincided with "The Voice" achieving its lowest-ever viewership, following the controversial departure of long-time coach Sir Tom Jones.
Emma Willis, a prominent figure in British television, recently helmed a significant portion of Saturday night programming, presenting both the live show of "Strictly Come Dancing" on BBC One and "The Voice" on ITV. Despite her extensive on-screen presence, "The Voice" recorded its lowest ever episode ratings, with only 1.4 million viewers tuning in.
This downturn in viewership for "The Voice" occurred amidst controversy surrounding the departure of Sir Tom Jones, a staple coach on the show. Sir Tom stated that his exit was not his choice, attributing it to ITV's financial difficulties with insurance and a desire to "refresh" the coaching panel. He expressed dissatisfaction with a reduced role offered, which would have limited his involvement.
Willis, 50, hosted "Strictly Come Dancing" live from 6:15 PM to 8:50 PM, followed immediately by her hosting duties on "The Voice" from 8:50 PM to 10:05 PM. This schedule ensured her dominance of Saturday night television, although the shows did not directly compete in time slots. "Strictly" is broadcast live on Saturdays, with results shows airing on Sundays, while "The Voice" had filmed its current series in advance.
Last week's live show for "Strictly Come Dancing" also saw a dip in viewership, with 5.049 million viewers compared to 6.2 million the previous year. While the second live show saw a slight increase to 5.1 million viewers, it remained a million down from the previous year. "The Voice" averaged 8.5 million viewers in previous seasons.
Recent changes to "The Voice" lineup include the departure of Sir Tom Jones and Danny Jones, with Cheryl Cole and rapper Aitch joining as new coaches alongside returning coaches will.i.am and Kelly Rowland. However, the transition has reportedly been marked by tension, with will.i.am allegedly expressing anger over Sir Tom's dismissal. Sources suggest that this discord has created an awkward atmosphere during filming, potentially impacting the show's reception.