Is The Voice on course to flop?

It all started so well for Britain's newest reality TV contest.

With a mass media operation exciting fans and drumming up support from the public, The Voice - the singing contest from Holland - launched to a ratings high of 10 million, the highest launch ever for a reality TV concept in the UK.

The concept is fresh, the judges are legends and the singers are VERY talented. So how come ratings have nearly halved in just a few weeks? Why can't The Voice, ironically, find it's voice with the UK audience?

It seems, to many, that the concept is just a little bit boring. OK, the Blind Auditions were fantastic. Genuinely great singers featured from the onset, and it was great to see the 'coaches' judging purely on The Voice. We saw singers from all age groups and all backgrounds performing and getting through to the Battle Rounds.

But it was the Battle Rounds where things hit a snag. You see, the unique concept of The Voice is the Blind Auditions. Now that they're over - they finished rather quickly, in my opinion - the whole idea of the spinning chairs and just focusing on The Voice is gone. It just turns into another music contest.

I personally liked the Battle Rounds, but sadly a lot of people disagreed. Ratings started to slip as some of the fan favourites, including Jessica Hammond who performed 'Price Tag' to critical acclaim, headed home. The problem was, a lot of the good acts were put against each other, meaning some great singers got through, but quite a few left too. The live shows then brought forward a mix of 'good' singers and some who, well, just don't really cut it.

And it seems the audience agrees with me. The most recent live show saw viewing figures drop to under 6 million, nearly half from the opening weekend. Many people I have spoken to have said it's boring now, the singers are dull and there's no chemistry between the judges.

And they're right. The judges/ coaches (or whatever you call them) do lack chemistry. Will.I.Am is very amusing, but his comments are too nice, the same with Danny and Tom. Tom is too old to know anything about the current music industry, and Danny is too unknown to really excite viewers. Plus, he stands up all the time (just sit down for once, please!) Jessie J on the other hand is an oddball; occasionally, she makes constructive criticism and she's usually right, but a lot of the time she comes across as a spoilt brat who is overshadowed by the three men.

The programme ideally sees itself as the 'nice guy' in the music world, but in reality, this never happens. We need a nasty record producer in there, and dare I say it, the show is missing the buzz and excitement surrounded by someone like Simon Cowell.

Although you'll never hear me admitting to liking the X Factor or Britain's Got Talent (both are terrible shows which exploit their own artists for a few laughs), you have to applaud them for being successful. Sadly, if The Voice can't pick itself up and raise viewing figures, ratings will fall flat. And no one likes a flat voice now do they?!

Pictures Courtesy of Wikipedia

Review of the Week: Q Magazine

Men's magazine. It's either boobs or more boobs.

Ok, so maybe that's a bit harsh. There are genuinely some decent titles out there. Forget Zoo and Nuts, FHM is a favourite of mine. The magazine has gone through a rapid makeover in recent months, with better interviews, photos and a fantastic Men's fashion section. Then you have Esquire and GQ, all very nice but all for the rich and upper class man. I just end up drooling over the Austin Read suits and pictures of Kiera Knightley, knowing that there's little chance of me getting either (I live in hope!)

So facing a dilemma over what glossy magazine to choose from, I decided to try my luck at Q Magazine. All I knew about Q was that it was a music magazine. I presumed it targeted men, and I gathered it would probably cover more indie artists, judging from the cover.

But alas, I was pleasantly surprised. You see, Q is more of a music bible. It covers every genre possible, from Nicki Minaj in R&B to Icelandic classic/ rock legends Sigur RA.

From just one magazine, I've opened up my mind, and ears, to a whole new wrath of music from people I had never even heard of, yet listened too. Suddenly, my iPod has hits from Santigold, Alabama Shakes, Saint Etienne and many many more.

The best thing about Q is their fantastic music reviews. Not only are they up-to-date, they offer a comprehensive library of artists, again across all genres. Each review gives you information about the artists, as well as selected songs that you should listen too. For me, this was vital, because it meant I could listen to the artists immediately just by searching for their music.

But Q is not all about reviews either. It also features articles on topical news items, such as illegal ticket sites and several interviews with artists and many other personalities. The magazine is also packed with all the latest pictures and gossip from within the music industry.

Altogether, it makes for a really interesting read, and has definitely changed how I view the music industry. So for any man out there struggling to find a decent glossy magazine to read whilst your girlfriend catches up with OK!, try Q. It will rock your world!

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

Total Wipeout axed by the BBC

With budget cuts, redundancies and a massive hole in the BBC's budget after it forked out a rumoured £22m for the broadcasting rights to The Voice, it was a given that the BBC would ditch the plug on a few shows.

But today's news came at quite a shock. Yes, Total Wipeout - the gameshow which sees contestants running round an 'activity' course in sunny Argentina to win money, and make us laugh - has been axed from our screens.

The show was a massive hit for the Beeb when it launched 4 years ago, to viewing figures of over 5 million on Saturday night prime time.

But audience figures have recently fallen to a dismal 3 million, despite numerous series including several celebrity specials.

The show was originally heralded as the British answer to Takeshi's Castle, seeing the great British public - of all sizes, personalities and appearances - competing on a crash course which featured inflatables, big red balls and lots of water.

Set in Buenos Aires, the show sets different challenges, with 20 competitors being whittled down to won before won champion is crowned, winning themselves the Wipeout trophy and £10,000.

Famous challenges include 'Dizzy Dummies', 'The Sweeper' and 'The Wipeout Zone'.

Presented by Richard Hammond, and Amanda Byram, it is understood that Series 5 of the show, and the final edition of Winter Wipeout - the celebrity format - will air, before the series is taken off air.

However, it is not known whether the show will continue on another channel. Likely contenders could be digital channel Watch, which screens international editions of the programme.

Endemol, who own the rights to the show, are understood to be working with the BBC on a new saturday night format.

My thoughts:

It's sad, but it was inevitable. The thing about Wipeout is that it gets boring after a few episodes. The course is usually the same throughout the entire series, which is very dull when compared to the international versions. Richard Hammond, who presents from a studio back in England, provides a cringe-worthy narration throughout the entire show, sending viewers to sleep. Amanda Byram on the other hand, based in Argentina, does an ok job but barely shows enthusiasm. But would you blame her? The show had a good run, but it was no Takeshi's Castle. It needed to be a bit more rough around the edges. It made changes to late, and then decided to take the celebrity route. It's a shame, but no doubt it will be replaced by something a little better (not by that 101 ways to leave a gameshow please. That show was worse!)

Picture Courtesy of Wikipedia

Review of the Week: The Voice

Singing contests, reality tv shows and music programmes. I look back at the shows that have passed. Fame Academy, Pop Idol, Popstars and the ailing X Factor. Shows which, at the top of their game, were popular with the public and generally well received. But they got boring. The singers fell flat, the sob stories passed the ten minute mark and the judges went from A List to Z List. What is needed, is a new, fresh format to rival all other reality tv shows, and put raw talent back in the spotlight.

Which is why The Voice seemed appealing. When the US version hit screens last year, from the original Dutch format, I was excited. Watching clips on YouTube, it seemed like a breath of fresh air to an already crowded entertainment world. And when the BBC, after a bidding war with ITV, claimed the prize of the UK broadcasting rights, my excitement started to grow.

In the last few months, the BBC have been plotting something so huge, that even the big, botox-faced man himself, Simon Cowell, rushed back home to see what all the fuss was about. A format unlike any other show, four 'superstar' coaches, a contest that is rocking its way all over the world and an aim that goes back to basics. The Voice aims to please the nation.

And overall, it did please me. Last nights opening was beyond my wildest dreams. But before I delve in, let me give you a bit of a heads up.

Presented by Holly Willoughby (urgh, so dull) and Reggie Yates (oo, a bit better), The Voice on BBC One aims to find a singing superstar by judging solely on the voice of an artist, with the winner signing a record contract with Universal. In the 'Blind Auditions', four of the world's biggest singers - Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas frontman), Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue (from The Script) - have their backs turned to the singer, facing the audience. By listening to the voice and judging on voice alone, the 'coaches' as they're referred to, choose who they want by pressing a red button and spinning their chair to reveal who is singing. If none of them press the button, then the signer goes home. If all of them press the buzzer, the singer decides who to coach them.

It sounds a bit complicated, but the fantastic first episode made it clear. It's a case of judging solely on the voice. It's not about how you look, where you come from, what your story is. It's about the talent. And the number one thing for me that was great about this show was that there was real talent. In fact, if you had all these artists on something like the X Factor, all of them would be chosen. But only the very best were picked.

In an episode which saw all four coaches singing to 'I've gotta feeling' (felt a bit cheesy, but showed off the singing skills of each coach), the show featured acts up and down the country, from working mothers, singers with confidence issues and even a boyfriend and girlfriend (was awkward, to say the least, when the boyfriend got chosen and the girlfriend didn't!) singing their hearts out.

All the singers brought something different to the stage, as did the four coaches. Jessie J has the current knowledge and popular appeal, Tom is the legend with plenty of experience, Will.I.Am plays the comedian - cool but with a game plan - and Danny shows a soft, caring side with his boyband looks. The part where the artist chooses the right judge is both fun and painful to watch, with each judge bartering for the act. In some cases, however, it did get a bit cringe worthy.

Yes, you can draw a few similarities to the other shows. It does feature a few sob stories, although moderately with a human touch, not just to exploit the artist. The auditions felt a bit X Factor-esque, especially when backstage. And the audience were still screaming and calling the shots.

But all in all, it is a fantastic concept for a show which the whole nation is tipping to be a success. The artists love it, the industry seems pleased and the critics are applauding it (unless you are Simon Cowell, whose dead horse - Britain's Got Talent - is lagging behind). It seems the BBC might have just found its own answer, indeed its own 'Voice' if you will, in the competitive singing contest market!

4/5 Stars

Pictures Courtesy of Wikipedia

Follow me on Twitter: @kieranwatkins

Ten TV shows you should be watching

It's fair to say, I am a bit of a telly addict. Despite a heavy schedule of study, work and more study, I think it is fundamental to relax in front of my favourite shows after a hard days graft, and the list below is no exception. Featuring a mix of drama, comedy, reality tv and soaps, I hope these ten shows will interest you in watching them too.

1. Winners and Losers (ITV 2 - Tuesdays at 10pm) - This Australian series is one of the best things to come out of Australia since Holly Valance. Following the demise of soaps such as Neighbours and Home & Away, this series follows a group of four women who have won the lottery, and showing the ups and downs of having it all. Funny, sophisticated and glamorous, a great series with similarities drawn to shows such as Mistresses and Desperate Housewives.
2. The Voice (BBC 1 - starts 24th March) - The most talked about singing contest over the last year, international versions have been praised by the critics, and now it's coming to the UK. Featuring a line-up of mentors including Jessie J, Tom Jones and Will.I.Am, this costly show is hotly anticipated to dominate prime time Saturday nights, going up against rival ITV. A must watch if you hated X Factor last year.

3. The Apprentice (BBC1 - starts 21st March) - Sir Alan, Nick and Karen return next week for the brand new series of The Apprentice. With new candidates, new tasks and a new prize, the reality show should prove to be more popular then ever, hosted by the nation's most menacing, and most respected businessman.
4. Frost on Interviews (BBC4 - Tuesdays at 9pm) - This excellent new series featuring respected journalist and presenter Sir David Frost looks up-close at the role of the interviewer. Interesting, educational and inspiring, this show - featuring interviews with guests such as Michael Parkinson - uncovers the true grit of the natural interviewer.

5. Watchdog (BBC1 - starts tonight at 8pm) - The consumer programme, back again for another new series, is a favourite with the nation, as it promises to inform the audience of all the latest dodgy deals, high prices and rogue traders. Oh and 'the queen of mean' Anne Robinson presents, what else could you ask for in a programme.
6. Benidorm (ITV1 - Fridays at 9pm) - It pains me to admit that I am hooked on this series, but it really is pure comedy gold featuring the worst stereotypes of the British working class. Cringe or cry with laughter, the new series provides just as many laughs as the previous, award winning series. So grab your fake tan and Speedos, and settle down in front of the box.

7. New Girl (Channel 4 - Fridays at 8:30pm) - One of the most talked about shows to cross the pond from the States, this funny, warm-hearted show features the kooky, gorgeous Zooey Deschanel as Jess, a teacher living with her three male flat mates. It's easy to watch and enjoy.
8. White Van Man (BBC3 - Thursdays at 9:30pm) Another easy-to-watch programme, featuring the likeable Will Mellor, this second series of the comedy series follows the life of a builder, who drives a white van. Pretty self-explanatory, it's appealing with its simple plot line and comic situations.

9. Britain's Got Talent (ITV1 - starts 24th March) The talent show series returns, along with Simon Cowell, whose absence last year saw the series fail to attract as much media attention as it had done previously. With the likes of Alesha Dixon and David Walliams added to the judging panel, the refreshed look promises to be bigger and better as it competes against The Voice. Which will you watch?
10. Eastenders (BBC 1) Ok, nothing interesting has happened on screen for ages, but off screen, exciting plans are in-store for the soap. Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood has left the programme, to much delight from disgruntled viewers, and old stalwart Sharon Watts will be returning later in the year. I'm hoping a new producer will re-ignite the show, which has seen viewers turn off over the last few years.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia