‘The Voice UK’ may be about to start its seventh series, but the elephant in the room is still the fact it is yet to find a bona fide star.
However, that is something Emma Willis and Will.i.am have attempted to downplay, claiming many forgotten contestants could still go on to have huge music careers.
While none of the show’s previous winners have made any significant impact on the charts, the pair think viewers often have an unfair expectation of them to be “an overnight success”.
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'The Voice' 2018 line-up
Ian West - PA Images via Getty Images
Speaking to HuffPost UK at the press launch of the new series, Will and Emma claimed the winners still have to graft to be successful.
“We have this short attention span of when something is supposed to happen,” Will said. ”Overnight success is not healthy - it’s like trying to lose weight. You’ve got to put in work, you’ve got to eat right and work out and gradually lose the weight. That’s how you keep the weight off.
“Now, you apply that same mentality to your career. You want to have a sustainable career. It’s unlikely for you to have a hit overnight and sustain that for 20 years.”
He continued: “If you work at it, and the next thing you know you’ve been working at it for 10 years and you finally get a hit, then you know how long it takes. More importantly, you have the guts and the tolerance to undergo all the freaking BS the music industry is going to put you through.
“Part of the reason people fall off is because they’re fragile and they give up.”
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Emma with last year's winner of 'The Voice' Mo Adeniran
Bruce Glikas via Getty Images
Admitting she was hoping 2018 could be the year to find a superstar, Emma said: “We hope every year it will be the year we find somebody, but you can’t have an overnight success unless you have a powerhouse sitting on that panel.
“We have four people who are powerhouses in their own right, but they’re musicians and singers - they can only do so much.
“We’ve given them a platform but the label has to go with it. It’s hard to be a singer or a songwriter or in a band - there’s so much talent out there, it’s hard to get on the radio, there’s not much TV to go and promote yourselves. There’s so many factors to think about. It’s hard work and it takes time - it doesn’t happen overnight.
“So let’s not go, ‘we haven’t found a superstar yet’,” she said. “Because in five years’ time, Mo [Adeniran, 2017 winner] might be the biggest star in the world, or Jamie [Miller, 2017 finalist] might suddenly smash it in America.”
‘The Voice’ returns on Saturday (6 January) at 8pm on ITV.
'The Voice' UK: Where Are They Now?
Lydia Lucy (Finalist, 2016)(01 of14)
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will.i.am kept his promise of further support, and Lydia performed with the Black Eyed Peas at the Capital Summertime Ball, just months after her series ended. (credit:BBC)
Jermain Jackman (Winner, 2014)(02 of14)
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It seemed the BBC may finally have found a star with Jermain. Regrettably, this wasn't the case, and his debut album peaked at number 42 in the charts after its 2015 release. (credit:Dave J Hogan via Getty Images)
Leanne Mitchell (Winner, 2012)(03 of14)
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Sadly, the show's first ever winner found herself dropped in 2014, after releasing just one album.
Leanne later blamed the fact her label waited too long after her victory on 'The Voice' in releasing the album for its lack of commercial success, claiming she was still happy she didn't "cop out" and release a covers album. (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Tyler James (Runner-up, 2012)(04 of14)
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Tyler "I Was Best Friends With Amy Winehouse" James (she's mentioned six times on his Wikipedia page alone) was a fan favourite during the first series of 'The Voice', famously performing a duet with will.i.am dangling from the ceiling.
This didn't translate to a fruitful music career, though, and his last offering in 2012 stalled at number 47 in the UK album chart. (credit:REX/Brian Rasic)
Bo Bruce Runner-up, 2012)(05 of14)
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Despite having the most commercial success of any of the former 'Voice' stars, Bo didn't have an easy time after leaving the competition, and quit her record label after two singles due to a "lack of support", before eventually checking into rehab for exhaustion.
She's since branded former coach DannyO'Donoghue a "wanker" after admitting that they shared a snog while she was still being mentored by him on the show. (credit:Rex/Jason Sheldon)
Vince Kidd (Fourth place, 2012)(06 of14)
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Vince has continued to make music since appearing on the show, releasing four singles, though none managed to chart in the UK. (credit:Rex)
Twinnie Lee Moore (2002)(07 of14)
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She was already a successful musical theatre actress when she auditioned for 'The Voice', but none of the judges turned their chairs for Twinnie.
Since then, she's focussed on acting and in 2014, began playing a McQueen in 'Hollyoaks'. She also, judging from this photo, loves a good hat. (credit:Rex/Tom Horton)
While it seems he may not have been successful, Jamie is continuing to make music and keeps fans updated online. (credit:Rex/Beretta/Sims)
Leah McFall (Finalist, 2013)(09 of14)
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Leah's cover of 'I Will Always Love You' may have charted at number 8 while she was on the show, but her efforts after the competition couldn't match it.
Despite support from will.i.am - who invited her to support him on tour - Leah's debut album failed to materialise, and she was quietly dropped by her label. (credit:Neil Lupin via Getty Images)
Andrea Begley (Winner, 2013)(10 of14)
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Andrea famously caused will.i.am to storm off set when she was announced as winner over his act, Leah McFall.
Andrea had huge success - by The Voice's standards... - in 2013, when her debut album charted a number 7.
We haven't heard much from her since then though, and after its release, she completed her Masters degree in Law and Governance... which would appear to suggest we won't be hearing a follow-up anytime soon. (credit:Harlem Mepham via Getty Images)
Max Milner (2012)(11 of14)
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Chart success wasn't Max's forte, but in early 2016, he was still making music and sharing updates with fans. (credit:Rex/Ray Tang)
Following her success on the show, Sally completed a UK tour at the tail-end of 2014. (credit:Alex Huckle via Getty Images)
Bungle (2015)(13 of14)
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From what we can gather, he's still living comfortably with Zippy and George in the 'Rainbow' house, following his brief appearance. (credit:Rex/Freemantle Media Ltd.)
Kevin Simm (Winner, 2016)(14 of14)
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Former Liberty X star Kevin triumphed on what would be the last BBC series of 'The Voice'.
Unfortunately, he couldn't break the show's curse, and his solo album 'Recover', failed to chart when it was released in October 2016. (credit:Jeff Spicer via Getty Images)