The Voice returns: Twitter reacts to Rita Ora’s hair and fireman Stevie McCrorie

BBC1's singing contest was back for a fourth series featuring young Stephen McLaughlin, Kym Marsh's daughter and Bungle from Rainbow

This competition is now closed

By Susanna Lazarus

Published: Sunday, 11th January 2015 at 9:27 am

Love it or hate it, The Voice is back. BBC1’s glitzy singing contest returned last night for a fourth series as coaches will.i.am, Tom Jones andd Ricky Wilson took their seats once again, joined by newcomer Rita Ora. No longer struggling in a head-to-head with Britain’s Got Talent, The Voice found itself up against ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes reboot, hosted by Harry Hill – and Twitter just didn’t know what to do with itself…

Telly dilemmas … the Voice? Stars In Their Eyes … Or You Only Live Twice on catch-up? #Bondwins

— Nigel Pauley (@nigelpauley) January 10, 2015

Flicking between The Voice and Stars in Their Eyes because both are as painful viewing as each other

— Charlie Arme (@charliearme) January 10, 2015

Okay, Stars In Their Eyes has a husband and wife as The Everly Brothers. YOUR MOVE, THE VOICE.

— Steven Perkins (@stevenperkins) January 10, 2015

Since its launch in 2012, The Voice has always been marmite telly. It has its supporters…

Seeing someone steps away from achieving what they have worked for all there life has u just hanging off edge of ur seat!!!! #TheVoice

— Katie Piper (@KatiePiper_) January 10, 2015

the voice puts the x factor to absolute shame.

— Ben Stubbs (@benstubbs) January 10, 2015

… but Twitter is a harsh mistress and there were plenty of skeptics tuning in last night, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce:

Stars In Their Eyes > The Voice. But then again setting yourself on fire and drinking bleach > The Voice.

— Stuart Heritage (@stuheritage) January 10, 2015

I'd like it if the chairs kept spinning, getting faster and faster until eventually they burrowed deep into the earth's core. #TheVoice

— Nick Harvey (@mrnickharvey) January 10, 2015

didn't even try to watch the voice this year bc i knew it would be so bad compared to last year and i was right

— hels (@helena_bartley) January 10, 2015

Some die-hard fans were missing their favourite judges:

The voice is not the same without @TheScript_Danny and @JessieJ

— Chloe?☔️ 12DAYS (@chloethescript) January 10, 2015

Rita Ora trying to take over Kylie Minogue on the voice is like primark trying to take over Chanel

— Elliott Lucas (@elli0000tt) January 10, 2015

But while she’s no longer on our screens, Jessie J was loyally tuning in to watch the spinning chairs…

Watching the @thevoiceuk

— Jessie J (@JessieJ) January 10, 2015

Twitter was the ultimate judge of newbie Rita Ora’s performance, and opinion was split:

@RitaOra good bloody job on the voice.
Funny and genuine and comments were bang on

— Howard Donald (@HowardDonald) January 10, 2015

#TheVoiceUK #RitaOra is such a nice person, it is actually refreshing. Great stuff this year @TheVoice_TF1 @BBCOne

— OMGit’sAIAS (@OMGitsAIAS) January 10, 2015

Just watched @BBCTheVoiceUK it was so good. Loving @RitaOra she is a brilliant addition to the show. #talent

— Nicola (@nicola2012) January 10, 2015

Can't decide whether Rita Ora is really bloody annoying or a breath of fresh air #thevoiceuk

— Ian Hyland (@HylandIan) January 10, 2015

Rita Ora is just as annoying as Jessie J on the voice. ? Be gone

— Kyle Young (@Kyle_Young21) January 10, 2015

While her skills as a judge attracted plenty of comment, it was really her hair causing the hoo-ha…

The Voice 2015 : It’s @RitaOra dinosaura as the newest judge’s prehistoric hairstyle gets viewers in a spin ! pic.twitter.com/FFCtuTHo8V

— Johann (Garçon) ✏ (@Johann_Anav) January 10, 2015

Breanna's hair styling skills. nice work for a 9 year old! #RitaOra #thevoice pic.twitter.com/eNNrEGi7RV

— Matt O'Donnell (@big_mattod) January 10, 2015

Suddenly realised what @RitaOra's hair looks like @BBCTheVoiceUK #thevoiceuk pic.twitter.com/S9Ky37nmgc

— Kerina Duhra (@kerinajasmin) January 10, 2015

Ahhhh that kid was good and really cute #TheVoice

— Lisa Snowdon (@Lisa_Snowdon) January 10, 2015

Totally over the moon that @steviemccrorie got 4 turns. Every time I hear that performance I get goosebumps. He's ridiculously good..

— Emma Willis (@EmmaWillis) January 10, 2015

That's not a firefighter on The Voice, it's a young Peter Capaldi

— Neil Midgley (@NeilMidgley) January 10, 2015

…to Kym Marsh’s daughter Emily and Bungle off Rainbow:

So proud of my baby @EmilieCunliffe on the voice tonight!! She is so young and has some nerve to get out there like that! Love you baby!! ?

— Kym Marsh (@msm4rsh) January 10, 2015

Emilie Cunliffe should have gone through tonight aswell as the Scottish kid on the voice, decent singer at end with Stevie #thevoiceuk

— Christopher Young (@youngc567) January 11, 2015

If this guy was Bungle why did he just do a George impersonation? #TheVoice

— Will Buxton (@thebuxtonblog) January 10, 2015

Gemma Collins shared her opinions.

The voice the contestants should go with the first judge that turns cause they believe in them first #TheVoice

— Gemma Collins (@missgemcollins) January 10, 2015

And then there was Grayson Perry who live-tweeted the entire evening. Fingers crossed he tunes in next week…

The Voice is like the X factor after it's been told by the dole office to attend a government sponsored course on how to be cool

— Grayson Perry (@Alan_Measles) January 10, 2015