The Voice is back on Sunday

The Voice of Ireland returns to our screens for a fifth series on Sunday 3rd January next. Series four saw the show achieve chart topping viewings and was one of the highest rated shows on RTÉ for the year. Kathryn Thomas and Eoghan McDermott will be reprising their presenting roles and offering a shoulder to cry on and a hug and anything else our nervous contestants need!

Returning to the coaching panel and joining Una Foden on the spinning red chairs will be our two favourite boys – Kian Egan and Bressie and our pop princess Rachel Stevens. Una’s first year on The Voice of Ireland proved to be quite successful, with Team Una producing 2015’s winner Patrick James! Can she do it again or was it beginner’s luck?

Bressie starts out this series wondering if he has lost his touch as he struggles to fill his team, while the others race ahead, has he lost his mojo? He feels Una is a real threat and she won last year and he is even losing out in pitches to Kian!

Una and Rachel joined the panel last series and as newbies had a lot to contend with considering it’s hard to keep Bressie and Kian quiet. This year our ladies are much more confident and go in fighting for contestants they want, everyone’s much more comfortable with each other, no more politeness!

And of course there is the music. Series five will see the most musically diverse contestants taking part, with everything from rock to classically trained artists and our first drag queen!

On Sunday 3rd January 12 contestants will take to the stage hoping to make it to the Battles.

First to perform is 20 year old Kirsty Rose from Dalkey. Kirsty left school in her Leaving Cert year due to bullying and was home schooled. Stephanie Anketell (26) from Clare is the sporty type and played soccer for Ireland as a teenager until she tore her cruciate ligament.

Shauna Carrick (24) is from Blackrock in Dublin, works with a children’s choir and directs musical theatre, she loves Wizard Rawk which is basically Harry Potter rock! Next up is a voice from the past as 21 year old Jasmine Kavanagh from Newbridge, Kildare who auditioned for the Voice before, she didn’t get through that time but she took the feedback on board and has come back stronger.

Carl Gillic (23) from Drogheda has played in bands for years and entered the Voice as his girlfriend filled out the form for him. Singing Jeremy from Pearl Jam will Kian the rocker hit his button? Nik McDonald (41) from London is another rocker on the show – singing Led Zeppelin’s Ramble On

Brenda Mangwandi (25) lives in Dublin but is originally from Zimbabwe, she has just finished a Master’s degree in Chemistry. Singing ET by Katy Perry. Laura Whelan (19) from Clonsilla loves to busk, singing King by Years & Years. 2FM Wild Card Johnny Kohlmeyer (32) from Derry auditioned for the Voice UK. He thought he may never sing again after going through an operation to have a cancerous lump removed from his throat. Ashley Crowe (29) is originally from Manchester but has settled in Ennis with his family. When he was 13 he met Phil Collins who became a bit of a mentor to him, he flagged him as the next big thing. Singing Annie Lennox’s Walking on Broken Glass.

Febbie Manapsal (21) is originally from the Philippines and is now living in Donegal. Singing On my Mind by Ellie Goulding. The final contestant is 34 year old Johnny Garvey from Galway. Johnny has lots of singing experience and performs his own take on Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off.

The Voice of Ireland is produced by ShinAwil and will air on RTÉ One on Sunday evenings at 6.30pm.