Guest mentors revealed for The Voice UK's 2019 knockout stage.

Published: Fri 08 Mar 2019

With just one more week of Battles to be seen in the current series of The Voice UK, the coaches are close to confirming which six acts they'll each be taking to the next stage - The Knockouts. Of the six that have graduated on each team, only two can move forward to the live semi-final so the pressure is on to deliver those knockout performances and remain in the competition. In preparation, the coaches will have chart-topping advisors assisting them as they guide this year's contestants to fulfil their potential.

Olly Alexander, lead-singer of British pop-group Years & Years joins Jennifer Hudson to advise Team JHud.

Years & Years' first album Communion' debuted at number one in the UK back in 2015. After becoming the fastest selling debut album of the year from a UK band, Years & Years released their second studio album Palo Santo in 2018 and embarked on their first world tour.

Olly said: It was so dreamy to work alongside Jennifer and witness the love and passion she has for her very talented team. I'm a huge fan of hers and I want to be her best friend, her team are so strong I don't know how she's going to make any decisions between them! It was so much fun hearing everybody sing.

Jennifer Hudson said: Olly Alexander is such a ball of energy. He has such great artistry and style that I felt brought a completely different element to the table. And he's definitely someone who contestants could draw something from.

Meanwhile, Olly Murs will be joined by singer-songwriter Anne-Marie as she steps in to help guide Olly's team ahead of the next stage of the competition.

Anne-Marie released her debut album Speak Your Mind' in 2018. After an incredible year of success, the Essex-born singer received the most nominations for this year's BRIT Awards alongside Dua Lipa and Jess Glynne for Female Solo Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Video of the Year.

Anne-Marie said: I loved being Ollys guest coach on The Voice this year. It was an amazing experience to hear all of the contestants' voices up close and to hear all of their stories. Always love spending time with Olly and I really think he has a winner in his team!

Olly Murs said: Absolutely buzzing to have Anne-Marie with me as my guest coach this year. Her voice is the voice of the last few years. She is one of the most exciting current female artists out there right now that's absolutely smashing it. I know all of my contestants loved her feedback and I thoroughly enjoyed having her - we had a great laugh!

Singer-songwriter James Arthur will accompany Sir Tom Jones as they coach his team ahead of the Knockouts.

Having experienced being a contestant himself when he won The X Factor in 2012, James Arthur has since released two successful albums which have both been certified platinum. James has recently collaborated with fellow mentor Anne-Marie on a re-release of Rewrite the Stars' from Grammy and Golden Globe winning musical film, The Greatest Showman.

James said: It was great working alongside the legend that is Sir Tom Jones and his singers. He has a really strong team this year with huge potential....and hopefully the winner!

Sir Tom said: James was great. We saw eye to eye or ear to ear, if you like, on what we were hearing! He always had an opinion but nine times out of ten it was the same as mine and confirmed my thoughts so we had a very likeminded approach. It was great working with him.

Finally, will.i.am will be joined by global superstar Nicole Scherzinger as she helps him coach his team towards the next stage of the competition.

Nicole Scherzinger is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide as a solo artist, and was also a member of one of the biggest-selling female bands of all time, the Pussycat Dolls. Her versatility as a performer has brought her to the stage on London's West End, with her critically acclaimed role as Grizabella in Cats, which earned her an Olivier Award. This past December, Scherzinger joined Andrea Bocelli for two nights at Madison Square Garden shows, to perform for a sold out audience.

A close friend of will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas, Nicole recently collaborated with the band on their latest album as well as appearing in the recent ITV special, 20 Years of the Black Eyed Peas.

Nicole said: Mentoring young talent has always been my passion and I'm so excited to join this season of The Voice UK as a guest mentor. Will is an exceptional coach and has incredible musical ears, and I was so pleased he asked me to lend my support to nurture these artists throughout this process. He has chosen an amazing team and I can't wait to see where their journeys take them.

will.i.am said: It was great hanging with Nicole. She's family. It's good to be around people that you love and support and vice versa. I think Nicole has so much information and perspective. She's been through what they've been through, she's auditioned before for countless types of gigs. From The Pussycat Dolls and got it, to the West End and got it.

Each mentor will accompany the coaches during piano rehearsals and offer guidance to each act before they take to the stage.

The Voice UK continues on ITV at 8pm on Saturdays. The Battles conclude this Saturday (9th March 2019) and The Knockouts start on Saturday 16th March.

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