'The Voice UK' season 11 - when does it start? Who are the coaches? All you need to know

The new season of TV contests gets underway this weekend with the return of The Voice UK.

From start date to coaches and how it all works, here's everything you need to know about season 11 of the ITV show.

When is The Voice UK season 11 on TV?

The Voice UK begins its 2022 series on Saturday, 3 September at 8pm on ITV.

It directly follows the second season debut of The Masked Dancer and will air weekly.

Who are The Voice UK coaches for 2022?

Season 11 welcomes back the same coaching line-up as 2021 to the red chairs, as well as Emma Willis to host.

Will.i.am is the longest-serving coach, having been with the show since it began in 2012, closely followed by Sir Tom Jones who started on The Voice UK at the same time but had a one-season break in 2016.

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Olly Murs joined the panel in 2018, while Anne-Marie made her first appearance as a mentor last year and is back for a second run.

Will.i.am said: "I’m looking for someone I can coach, not necessarily to 100% perfection. Someone that I can really help craft their talent and build their confidence."

Sir Tom added: "I like natural singers. I like singers that sound like they really mean it and it’s something that is a natural thing for them to do. They are not trying, I don’t want people that just want to be famous."

How does The Voice UK work?

In the first rounds, the auditions are blind - so the coaches can't see who they are listening to and have to judge whether they like the performer based on voice alone.

Coaches who like a singer press a button before the end of the audition to turn their chair around and see the contestant in person, in the hope of tempting them to join their team.

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But if more than one coach turns for an auditionee, the singer gets to choose which mentor's team they want to join - and if no one turns, they must leave the stage and the competition.

After the blind auditions, the coaches can watch the following rounds of the contest as usual, where singers battle to keep a place in their team, to be "stolen" by another team, and eventually to win the competition.

Who won the last series of The Voice UK?

The Voice UK is a slightly unusual contest in that the winners don't often go on to have huge careers - in fact the show's biggest star, Becky Hill, didn't even make the final.

Scottish singer Craig Eddie won in 2021, coached by Anne-Marie, and released a number six single, 'Come Waste My Time', which he performed as an original song in the final.

Anne-Marie said: "Winning with Craig last series was a special moment and I am determined to keep a hold of my crown!"

Will.i.am added: "I’m here to encourage and give some nuggets of knowledge so that if they don’t win they have tools to go on and have a career like Becky Hill. Becky Hill didn’t win The Voice but out of all the contestants that have been on The Voice in the UK, Becky Hill has a serious career. I’m proud of her."

The Voice UK season 11 begins on Saturday at 8pm on ITV.

Watch: Becky Hill: 'The Voice UK saved me'