'The Voice': Jennifer Hudson Dismisses Concerns About Gender Imbalance On Coaching Team

'I’m happy to be here and be the only girl. Keep it that way!'

Paloma Faith may have voiced concerns about the gender imbalance on the panel of ‘The Voice’ during her time as a coach, but it is certainly not something current star Jennifer Hudson is concerned about. 

The singer has urged bosses to keep the line-up as it stands, and she wants to remain as the only female. 

When a space on the talent show became available after Gavin Rossdale was axed last year, ITV decided to hand his seat to former ‘X Factor’ star Olly Murs rather than recruit another woman to sit alongside Jennifer, Sir Tom Jones and Will.i.am. 

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Tim P. Whitby via Getty Images

Asked if she would have liked have seen things evened up, Jennifer told HuffPost UK at the show’s press launch: “No! What other girl do you need?!

“A girl always wants to be the only girl,” she said.

“The only other girl I have room for is my lady Emma [Willis, the host of ‘The Voice’].”

Jennifer continued: “I didn’t really think about it, to be honest. Here at J-Hud Productions, we welcome anyone.

“I love working with Will, I love working with Tom and Olly, and if it was a girl I’d have loved working with her just the same, but I’m happy to be here and be the only girl. Keep it that way!”

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Jennifer with her 'Voice UK' co-stars
Karwai Tang via Getty Images

When the same question was posed to Emma, she said it was not a matter of “male and female”. 

“In a world of equality, it would be lovely to have two females and two males,” she said, “But what we need are people who are dedicated and invested in finding, nurturing and looking after the people we find on the show.

“Jennifer, the minute she arrived I was like, ‘I want you to be my best friend. I love you.’

“These guys are busy, so it’s scheduling as well, it’s finding the time to commit to the show.”

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Paloma Faith was "pissed off" about being the only woman on the 2016 series
PA Archive/PA Images

Back in 2016, Paloma Faith said she was “pissed off” to be the only female on the panel of the last BBC series. 

‘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)
Jamie Johnson (Fourth place, 2014)(08 of14)
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Jamie continued to remain in the public eye after the show, and in 2015, declared that he was going to try and make a splash in America, insisting: "I just don’t want half the cake, I want the whole cake."

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)
Sally Barker (Runner-up, 2014)(12 of14)
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Sally may not have been the winner, but she still managed thrash champion Jermain Jackman in terms of single sales, charting 15 places higher than him the week after the show ended.

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)