will.i.am insists ‘The Voice UK’ is better suited to ITV than the BBC.
The Black Eyed Peas star – who is one of the original panelists on the talent show – admitted he thinks the talent show’s new home can only be good for the contestants because there are fewer commercial constraints than there were with the public broadcaster.
He told The Sun newspaper’s TV magazine: "The format is better here. Now, when the singers win, they can go on tour – they couldn’t go on tour on the BBC and their songs couldn’t forcibly be played on radio on the BBC either.
"It’s licence-fee payers’ money, so you’ve got to respect the BBC for sticking to their agreement, but it’s a great opportunity being on ITV."
The 41-year-old star compared the show’s move to a divorce and said he believes everyone is much happier now, even though he was initially stunned when he heard the news.
He said: "Imagine you’re 15 years old and Mommy and Daddy say they’re getting divorced. Though Mommy’s happy as she’s got a new love toy, the kids are sad – that’s how it felt when we left the BBC
"It was like, ‘What?! I thought everything was great!’ It’s come out of the blue. Then you realise that life is great over here on the other side now that Mommy’s happy. You never realise what happens when a parent is actually happy."
will is joined on the panel by newcomers Jennifer Hudson and Gavin Rossdale, but is particularly happy that Sir Tom Jones is back on the show after being axed by the BBC for the 2015 series.
He said: "I’m happy Tom’s back – it’s a more balanced show. The show was great without him, but with him it’s even better."
will.i.am prefers The Voice on ITV to BBC
