Kelly Rowland will be joining The Voice UK line-up after LeAnn Rimes left the show after a single season.
Last year American singer LeAnn, 42, signed up to the ITV reality series after the controversial axing of Olly Murs and Anne-Marie as coaches.
Soon after it was announced the coaches who remained – Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am – would be joined by LeAnn and McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.
Last month it was reported LeAnn would not be returning and instead wanted to ‘focus on her career in the US’.
Now the news has been confirmed by ITV, who have also announced her replacement.
Today the broadcaster announced the series’ return, sharing that ‘the iconic red chairs are ready to spin once again’.
‘Superstar coaches will.i.am and Sir Tom Jones return to the coaching panel, alongside last year’s winning coaches, McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, who also made history last series as The Voice UK’s first-ever double chair,’ it shared.
‘Also joining the line-up is megastar Kelly Rowland, bringing a wealth of industry experience and a fresh new dynamic to the battle for the UK’s next big star.’
In a statement Kelly said she was ‘looking forward to working with the excellent and passionate coaches the show is known for’.
‘I can’t wait to hear all the new talent and to go to battle for my team. Let’s go!’ she added.
ITV’s director of entertainment and daytime commissioning Katie Rawcliffe said Kelly would ‘bring fresh insights and even more energy to the panel’.
Meanwhile ITV Studio’s Lifted Entertainment’s creative director Diego Rincón added that Kelly had a ‘proven track record of discovering and mentoring new talent’.
Rising to fame in the 1990s as a member of Destiny’s Child alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Michelle Williams, Kelly has also sold over 40 million records worldwide as a solo artist.
She was a judge on season 8 of The X Factor UK in 2011, where she formed Little Mix.
Kelly then went on to act as a judge on season 3 of The X Factor USA in 2013 and from 2017 until 2020, she was also a coach on The Voice Australia.
Last month a source told The Sun: ‘LeAnn loved her time on the UK show, but wants to focus on her career in the States.
‘She was hugely popular with cast and crew, and everybody loved having her as part of the team.’
Last year she also appeared as a coach on The Voice Australia, winning that season with her act Reuben De Melo.
However soon after it aired, in September a TV insider said she was a ‘one and done coach’ and wouldn’t be returning.
This was then confirmed in January when the coaching panel was announced, with LeAnn replaced by former Spice Girl Melanie C.
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