Ronan Keating thinks ‘The Voice Kids’ contestants are “mesmerising”.
Ronan Keating loves The Voice Kids
The former Boyzone star is keen to “keep the dream alive” for the seven to 14-year-old entrants but is always blown away by their bravery as he can’t help but think of his own children - who include Jack, 24. Missy, 22, and Ali, 17, with his ex Yvonne Connolly and Cooper, six, and Coco, three, with his wife Storm, 41 - when he sees them perform.
The 46-year-old singer told the Sun newspaper: “I have kids the same age as some of the talent that stood on stage, and to see them with such confidence and such ability at that age is mesmerising.
“I am always honest, but sometimes it is hard as these kids are just starting out on their journeys.
"You want to keep the dream alive and give them the right criticism in the most positive way.”
Ronan’s fellow judge Will.I.am - who sits alongside McFly star Danny Jones, 37, and singer Pixie Lott, 32, on the panel on the series, which will kick off this Saturday at 7.30 pm on ITV1 and ITVX - praised one of his mentees and her “advanced” songwriting ability.
The 48-year-old rapper told the same paper: One of my team wrote this song, and I said to her, ‘No way.’ It was like, wow!
“She is just so advanced at songwriting already.
"There are some adults that I know that aren’t nearly as good at writing.
Host Emma Willis - who is mother to Isabelle, 13, Ace, 11, and Trixie, seven, with her husband, Busted star Matt, 40 - remarked how “well” the kids cope under pressure after beginning her own career as a teenage model.
The 47-year-old presenter told the outlet: “You are willing them on and they just take it all so well.”
She added: “There are times I have stressed out and worried about going on to the stage.
“I think if [at an early age] I had had a glimpse of what these kids do, it wouldn’t intimidate me so much as I got older.”
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