Sir Tom Jones is one of the coaches on BBC1's new talent show The Voice UK. Here he talks about blind auditions and singing with Elvis... What made you want to become a judge on The Voice UK? "Before I signed up, I wanted to know who the other three coaches were and if they were qualified. It's important to have top singers as coaches because we've all done it; we've all stood on a stage and performed and we know what we're talking about in our own field. You can't critique something if you haven't experienced it yourself. I was once with Elvis in Hawaii and we sang at his house, so I know singing." What's unique about the blind auditions? "I loved the American version and thought the blind auditions were a great idea. We don't know anything about the singers before they come on; we're not drawn to a singer because they've got five children or they've been trying to make it for a long time, we're judging solely on vocal performance. Also, some people may feel too insecure about their looks to audition for another show. The Voice is purely about the quality of 'the voice'." How did you find actually judging the blind auditions? "I wanted to hear as much of the singer as possible; you don't know if there's a really high note that's going to come up, so I always tried to wait as long as I could before I pressed the button. But if I waited too long and no one else buzzed in, I'd then think: 'It's unfair to let this person go', so I'd buzz in. But then I got told I was trigger happy!" If more than one of you buzzes in, that singer then has the power to choose which mentor they want to join. How do you sell yourself to them? "Well, each judge brings with them their own experiences but I just say to the artists, hopefully you know me, you know what I've done, what kinds of songs I can do and the advice that I can give you. If you like the way I sing, I can advise you on how to do it." Are you the 'pussycat' among all the coaches? "I'm no pussycat when it comes to giving an opinion. Although I can seem quiet next to Jessie J. She's quite a girl and it's hard to get a word in edgeways!" You've been a sex symbol most of your life - has there been any rivalry with fellow coach Danny, who's set to be the show's heartthrob? "Ha, ha! No, not at all! I'm old enough to be his father - or even grandfather." Finally, what are you looking for in an artist? "I want to find a singer who has something different. I don't want a copy of an artist already on the radio - I want someone who can set the radio alight with something new!" The Voice begins on Saturday, March 24 at 7pm on BBC1
