The Voice UK (series 5)

The series premiere was broadcast on 9 January 2016 from 7.30pm until 9.05pm.

• Group performance: The Voice UK coaches – Medley of "Get On Up" / "You Got the Love" / "Whole Lotta Love"

This episode aired from 7.45pm until 9.05pm.

This episode aired from 7.45pm until 9.05pm.

This episode aired from 7.45pm until 9.10pm.

This episode aired from 7.15pm until 8.30pm.

This episode aired from 7.15pm until 8.30pm.

• Although JJ Soulx joined Faith's team in the blind auditions, she later withdrew from the show for personal reasons. As a result, Faith selected Jordan Gray, who had not previously been chosen in the blinds, to take her place for the battle rounds.

This episode aired from 7.15pm until 8.35pm.

Team’s colour key

  Team Will

  Team George

  Team Paloma

  Team Ricky

Result's colour key

  Artist given 'Fast Pass' by their coach and did not face the public vote

  Artist received the fewest votes and was eliminated

  Artist won the competition

  Artist withdrew from the competition

The first part aired from 7.00pm until 8.40pm, and the second part from 8.50pm until 9.20pm.

• Coaches performance: "Get It On"
• Guest performances: Stevie McCrorie ("My Heart Never Lies") and Years & Years ("Desire")[24]

On 26 March 2016, it was announced that Chloe Castro and Beth Morris had withdrawn from the competition due to health and personal reasons, respectively. They were not replaced and the elimination went ahead as normal.

This episode aired from 7.00pm until 9.05pm.

• Guest performances: Zara Larsson featuring Tinie Tempah ("Lush Life"/"Girls Like") and Birdy ("Wild Horses")
• Group performances: Team Ricky with Ricky Wilson ("The Power of Love"), Team Boy George with Boy George ("Victims"), Team Paloma with Paloma Faith ("Piece of My Heart") and Team Will with will.i.am ("Good Times"/"Rapper's Delight")

With the eliminations of Heather Cameron-Hayes and Jordan Gray, Paloma Faith no longer has any artists remaining on her team.

This episode aired from 7.00pm until 9.00pm.

• Guest performances: Meghan Trainor ("No") and Shawn Mendes ("Stitches")[24]

Series 5 of The Voice UK launched to an audience of 7.87 million viewers, down over 1 million viewers on Series 4. However, ratings remained steady until they then took the usual dip as tougher competition was faced from ITV and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. Series 5 has the lowest average rating of any The Voice UK series for its Blind Auditions.

On 14 August 2015, it was announced that Boy George would be joining the show alongside Paloma Faith, will.i.am and Ricky Wilson.[2] Later that day, Sir Tom Jones posted a message to his fans on Facebook which said the following: "About The Voice UK: In good faith, as part of the team, I'd put the time in my schedule to be involved in Series 5, as I’ve done so for the last 4 years. I’ve supported the show and the BBC since the beginning. I was told yesterday, with no consultation or conversation of any kind, that I would not be returning. Having been through plenty of transformations throughout the years, I support and admire creative change. But being informed, as a matter of duty and respect, is an important part of creative relationships. This sub-standard behaviour from the executives is very disappointing. I will always admire the courage of the performers who participate in the show, as well as all the production staff who worked tirelessly to make a great family viewing experience for the audience at home. I wish the show well."[26]

This sparked outrage with the show's viewers, with many of them venting their frustration via Twitter.[27] Will.i.am, and hosts Marvin Humes and Emma Willis also expressed their disappointment during interviews. The BBC responded to this backlash by stating "The final decision on the coaches line up for series five of The Voice was only taken on Wednesday [12 August] and Tom's team was informed early yesterday [13 August] morning. We then announced it to the press so that it didn't leak. This has been the same every year and no role was ever promised. The chemistry between the coaches is extremely important and that they all represent different musical genres and we feel the new line up is exactly what the show needs. We look forward to seeing Tom on BBC One in October with his Children in Need concert. Tom hasn't been axed or fired from The Voice. He was out of contract once series four ended in April and that contract has not been renewed."

On 17 August, George posted the following the message on Twitter: "I have absolute respect for Tom Jones. The man is an absolute legend. Huge fan!"[28] The following day, Jones uploaded a new song on his YouTube channel entitled "Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used To Do?", with the accompanying message on Facebook: "This is a song I recently recorded, just happens to fit the bill! I'd like to thank everyone who's been so kind to me lately, except for those few, this is dedicated to them".[26]

Around 40,000 people applied to be on this series of The Voice. A month before the blind auditions were due to begin, the 200 artists that would be auditioning in front of the coaches were contacted and told that they were not successful, leaving no one to actually be performing on the show. The producers noticed the error hours later and had to contact all the singers to inform them that they would still be performing on the show. A spokesperson for the show said "We can confirmed this unfortunate incident was caused by a technical glitch and was rectified immediately."[29]

On 30 September 2015 The Mirror reported that the two new coaches, Faith and George, had been involved in a heated pitch for an artist they both turned around for on the third day of auditions (Monday 28th). The argument arose when Faith pretended to snore and fall asleep during George's pitch. George responded by saying "You said you weren't going to be bitchy and you're being bitchy. You've probably got PMT or something, you were extremely rude. If you choose Paloma she will probably fall asleep while you sing." On a separate occasion, he had told an artist that they had more number one hits in America than Faith did as well as telling her "don't give it if you can't take it". Fellow coach will.i.am later commented "that was super intense, I don't think I want to go backstage anymore, I'll stay out here instead."[30] A spokesperson for the show said that the row arose because "all four coaches are fighting hard to get the best talent on their teams. Competition and banter may be lively on camera but professional rivalries are left at the studio doors at the end of every recording. We think viewers are going to love the genuine passion that our new line-up brings to The Voice in 2016." In the early hours of the morning on 30 September, George posted a photo of himself and Faith on Twitter with the caption "Ha. Love you Paloma Faith it's just 'banter-mime!", to which Faith replied "[the] feeling is mutual baby!".[31] The pitch in question was over former Liberty X singer and the season's eventual winner, Kevin Simm, which aired during episode 4 of the Blind Auditions.

Over the course of the series, a total of three contestants pulled out from the competition for various reasons. The first instance of this was when JJ Soulx pulled out after her blind audition for "personal reasons", leading her to be replaced by formerly eliminated contestant Jordan Gray. However, the issue was again raised when two contestants – Beth Morris and Chloe Castro – pulled out before the quarter-final only hours before it was due to be aired.[32][33] Viewers complained about this as both had been considered favourites to win, and their departure was put very abruptly. Though it was revealed Castro quit for health reasons, many online tabloids and newspapers speculated that Morris had left due to drug allegations, something she had kept hidden from producers.[34][35]

Morris revealed that the drug allegations were in fact true, stating to Digital Spy, "Two years ago I realised I had a problem with drugs. I made the decision myself to seek treatment and checked into the Priory clinic. It gave me strength and helped me face the world. It changed me for the better. But addiction is tough. And I am sorry to say that I have relapsed on a few occasions since I left. When this has happened I have immediately sought help. I'm truly sorry I've let everyone down but I'm determined to put this behind me." Once released to the producers of the show, both them and Morris agreed that the best course of action would be to withdraw from the competition.[36]