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British version of 'The Voice' moving from BBC to ITV

By Karen Butler
Seen here at the world premiere of "Spectre" in London on Oct. 26, will.i.am will be a coach on Season 5 of The U.K edition of "The Voice." Photo by Paul Treadway/ UPI
Seen here at the world premiere of "Spectre" in London on Oct. 26, will.i.am will be a coach on Season 5 of The U.K edition of "The Voice." Photo by Paul Treadway/ UPI | License Photo

LONDON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- ITV announced plans Monday to air Britain's The Voice and the new spinoff The Voice Kids, starting in 2017.

The U.K. edition of The Voice was broadcast on the BBC for the past four seasons. It will move to ITV after its upcoming fifth season on the BBC.

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"ITV is the natural home of big entertainment so we are thrilled that The Voice and The Voice Kids are both joining our family alongside brilliant shows like The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Saturday Night Takeaway and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here," Peter Fincham, ITV's director of television, said in a statement.

John de Mol, Talpa founder and creator of The Voice, added: "We are delighted that The Voice has found a new home at ITV. With the addition of The Voice Kids, we are excited about working with ITV in 2017 to develop and expand The Voice experience for the United Kingdom audience after completing what we think will be a fantastic upcoming season on the BBC, who have been a great partner."

"The BBC is incredibly proud of The Voice, but the fifth series, which starts in January, will be our last," Mark Linsey, acting director of BBC Television, confirmed earlier this month.

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"We always said we wouldn't get into a bidding war or pay inflated prices to keep the show, and it's testament to how the BBC has built the program up -- and established it into a mainstay of the Saturday night schedule -- that another broadcaster has poached it."

Season 5 of the singing competition series will feature will.i.am, Boy George, Paloma Faith and Ricky Wilson as coaches. No casting has been announced yet for the show once it moves to ITV.

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