The Voice UK: Emma Willis & Marvin Humes

Emma Willis began her presenting career in 2002 on MTV and has since gone on to present slots on ITV’s This Morning, Loose Women and Channel 5’s Big Brother.  Emma also hosts the Sunday morning breakfast show on Heart FM alongside Stephen Mulhern. 

How did you feel when you got offered the presenting job on The Voice UK?

I couldn’t believe it because I didn’t even know it was happening! I got a phone call to say I had been offered The Voice UK but I had not even met them. They just asked me if I would like to do it. I was like ‘Yes of course I would!’ I was then not allowed to tell anybody and it really was an ‘OMG’ moment. I was so excited. I had watched the previous two series before.

What do you love about the show?

The thing that I fell in love with was the minute you saw those chairs. You are willing the contestants to do well and now having spent time with them, I love it so much.

Have the contestants’ stories pulled at your heartstrings?

I cried quite a few times. I am a bit of a soft touch, to be honest, and so I really felt for the contestants. You are willing them on. You really want them to succeed. They are just incredible. For some, you also see their whole dream crumble in front of them. But even when people did not get through, they said the experience alone had been phenomenal. The input from the coaches and production team is priceless. In that way, I find it such a positive show. Will, especially, is very happy to give out his email address to people he thinks are amazing. Even if you don’t get through, you walk out with Will’s email address!

Do you think the contestants have a lot of guts?

Yes they do as some are shaking so much. Some people have never sung on stage before - they have only ever sung at a barbecue! And so to go out there on the stage and sing in front of 600 people is scary, let alone the huge superstars listening to them. They are big names. It must be terrifying.

It is a massive opportunity though. You have seen first hand what it is like with the experience of your own husband…

It’s a really big thing. That’s why I invest so much time in them. I have seen first hand what it is like to have a huge amount of success. I have also seen first hand what it is like to lose that success. I do have a lot of empathy with them as I have seen it at its best and at its worse. It is not easy.

Do your motherly instincts kick in?

Definitely! Some people bring their kids and I am a sucker for kids. You go on a little adventure with them. You want the best for them.

How do you get on with Marvin?

He is brilliant. He is a lovely guy. He is really good at presenting. He is so natural and this is where he comes from. This kind of show is what we know him from. He has invaluable experience and knowledge of how the contestants feel and what they are going through. He is really in touch with them on that level. He is so easy going. We hang out together in between filming and it is really nice to be doing a show with someone you get on with. We both have kids of a similar age and so we talk about babies a lot!

Has there been a lot of banter with the coaches yet?

We are getting there. During the auditions, you are behind the scenes, but we are now starting to film the battle and knockout stages and so you get a lot more banter on stage. Kylie is your mum, Tom is your dad, Ricky is your cheeky little brother and Will is the naughty uncle you want to go out with for a drink!

Are you looking forward to glamming it up on the live shows?

Yes, it is always a nice excuse to glam up. I am very nervous about the live shows. It’s the BBC and it is a big audience. But with nerves comes adrenaline and with adrenaline comes excitement. Nobody knows what is going to happen.

Do you feel under pressure to succeed?

Completely. I am trying not to think about it but I am really excited about the whole thing too. The talent is phenomenal, the coaches are phenomenal and so now I just hope Marvin and I don’t mess it up!

You must be so pleased with the way your career is going?

Aww thanks. It’s going good at the minute but you never know, it all might go terribly!

How do you juggle The Voice UK with your home life as a mum?

It is good because Matt is around as well and my parents are around. Between the four of us we manage it. The Voice UK is a good chunk of a commitment but it is ok.

Do you think there is already a stand-out winner?

It really is an amazing opportunity. In my opinion, there are three potentials. I am not the coach or the audience but I would say there are three who are outstanding. One in particular, I think, has got the whole package. But I will say no more!

Marvin Humes

Marvin Humes shot to fame with band JLS, the successful runners up of the The X Factor in 2008. The band went on to achieve phenomenal success including two BRIT awards, five MOBO awards and five number ones.  Marvin has recently presented This Morning with his wife Rochelle of The Saturdays, and currently hosts his own show on Capital Radio.

When you were offered a presenting job on The Voice UK, what was your reaction?

Oh wow it’s incredible. It is a dream come true and I said yes instantly. I am such a huge fan of all the reality talent shows. The Voice UK is such a great show and so to be offered the presenting role is incredible. I grabbed it with both hands.

Why do you think The Voice UK is such a good show?

The spinning chairs are such a cool element. Even when you are at home watching and you play along and shut your eyes, it is difficult to play when you are just listening to the voice alone and not looking at someone. You literally are judging them purely on their vocal ability. It is a unique concept.

How has the filming gone so far?

It has gone great. It is the first time I have worked with Emma and she is so cool. You are thrown in at the deep end when you have not worked with someone before, but we do bounce off each other and everybody is happy. I just want to keep that banter going.

Have you been impressed by the standard of the contestants?

It’s incredible! Everybody is a very good singer. There is nobody below that level. But there are only so many places on the coaches’ teams and some great people have not got through because the team is packed.

Looking at the stress on the contestants’ faces, does it bring back memories for you when you were auditioning with JLS?

One hundred per cent, yes. People can look at me and think, ‘he has done it before, he has seen it before’. Whenever people meet me, they ask me questions about how I felt in my first audition. It is really cool I can do that. I know exactly what they are going through, what the family is going through and I know how much it means to people. I was in their shoes.

Have you been a shoulder to cry on for the contestants?

Totally. Unfortunately there are more nos than yeses. There have been a lot of tears and it has been emotional for Emma and me. We see all the contestants before they go out. As hosts you do get attached to them. Obviously, when they go through, it is sheer joy and adulation. Everyone goes nuts. But when they don’t get through, it is heartbreaking and it is really sad.

What advice would you give to the contestants?

They just need to sing as much as possible. They need to get their song down to a tee. They will be nervous on the day and so they need to be very well prepared. If you do that, you are more confident in your body and you know your song inside out. If you don’t, you can see that.

Have you enjoyed the banter with the coaches so far?

We haven’t had much time on screen yet as we are off the stage but once the battle rounds start, that is when our relationships start. Kylie is such a legend. She literally is a pop queen. She is so professional and lovely. Ricky is an incredible front man and he is a really nice guy. And Sir Tom and Will are back. It’s going to be a fantastic series.

Are you looking forward to the live shows?

Yes definitely. It is going to be more nerve-wracking but I have done This Morning with Rochelle before and so hopefully I will be ok!

Do you see TV as the way forward with your career now?

Yes I do feel really lucky. It is going to be daunting to think come January I am not going to be part of JLS anymore as that has been my bread and butter for the last six years. But it is exciting too. It is a new chapter for me and I am never afraid of change or new things.

What do the rest of your band mates think about you hosting The Voice UK?

They are over the moon for me and they are going to come and watch the live shows.

How do you find the juggling now you’re a dad?

My schedule is crazy until Christmas. Rochelle and I have never come from privileged backgrounds and we have worked very hard to get to the position we are now in. As a dad, you get the sudden responsibility.  You want to look after your nest. We want the best for our daughter and we will keep working hard so she can have the best things in life.

Summing up, life couldn’t get much better really…

It’s fantastic. I am very lucky. Rochelle and I want to keep making exciting things happen for each other.