Fiery Delta v Seal clash wins ratings

Delta Goodrem and Seal took the showdown phase literally clashing openly over Michelle Martinez performance. Courtesy The Voice, Nine Network.

THE Voice coaches Delta Goodrem and Seal took the showdown phase of the reality TV competition literally, with the rival superstars clashing openly over one of his contestant's performances.

The pop diva had told Team Seal singer Michelle Martinez her sassy rendition of Lloyd’s hip hop hit Dedication To An Ex was not up to her usual vocal standard, feedback which was later rejected by her coach Seal who attempted to "respectfully disagree" with Goodrem describing the performance as "flawless".

Goodrem was visibly angry at being chipped and when filming continued during the ad break, involving all four coaches and destined for The Voice’s website, she took Seal to task over his public critique and defended her opinions.

The heated exchange left Ricky Martin and Joel Madden looking for the exits, while a calm Seal continued to back Martinez and Goodrem attempted to set the record straight and argued "she can do better".

After Ben Goldstein delivered a rousing performance, Delta Goodrem had no option but to flirt with him to get him in her team. Courtesy: The Voice, Nine Network.

Producers stepped in to play peacemaker, with Goodrem impressing her TV bosses by "gathering herself quickly and getting over it".

In some judicious editing, Goodrem's immediate reaction to Seal's correction, as well as the full debrief after the performance (which was also caught on film) was not put to air.

It is not the first time the two have had words, with Goodrem left to cringe after Seal misunderstood her use of the word "brother" which he interpreted as being a reference to his skin colour as they gave American-born singer Steve Clisby feedback.

A more intense moment in the blind auditions - when Goodrem challenged Seal over his post-show coaching of last year's winner Karise Eden - also hit the cutting room floor.

The coaching battle was only overshadowed by stunning appearances from Team Ricky’s Karen Andrews aka Miss Murphy and Team Seal favourite Harrison Craig.

See Delta Goodrem's on air blunder after Steve Clisby's rendition of Barry White's 'I Can't Get Enough Of Your Love'

Channelling the powerhouse alter ego that allows her to overcome behind-the-scenes nerves, Andrews was at her best with an emotionally raw rendition of Elton John’s Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word.

Melbourne’s title contender Craig, who remains the iTunes chart leader to beat this year, was praised for his "spell-binding" performance of Michael Buble’s Home.

Four singers from Team Ricky and Team Seal sang for survival, with viewers now given the power to vote their favourites through to the finals.

The artist with the highest public vote will advance immediately to the finals, while the lowest will be eliminated during Tuesday’s live results show. The two left standing will then sing for their coach’s vote.

The Voice contestant Kiyomi Vella has been told by Seal that there should be no safety net when going for your dreams. Credit: Nine

Monday night’s show will feature Team Delta’s Rob Edwards, Jackie Sannia, Josh Kyle and Steve Clisby; as well as Team Joel’s Danni Hodson, Adam Garrett, Kiyomi Vella and Michael Paynter.  

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'I'd wear it again, any day': Delta

The Voice coach Delta Goodrem poses ahead of the next phase of the top-rating TV series. Picture: Nic Gibson Source: News Limited

IT was the pantsuit which polarised Australia, but The Voice's only female coach Delta Goodrem has vowed to wear the controversial stage costume ''again, any day.''

A production decision to keep the look of Channel 9's top-rating talent series consistent across the nine episodes of blind auditions set the Sony singer up for a fashion assassination on social media, as Goodrem appeared night after night in the same plunging black Lisa Ho design.

Wearing the criticism well, a defiant Goodrem told News Limited she ''found it quite astounding my wardrobe became such a talking point when we all wore the same outfits over (the blinds). I loved it, I'd wear that again, any day. It was custom made, it was so comfy, but it's now exciting to have new things to wear and more styles to play with.''

As the competition launches into a new 'showdown' phase tonight, the good news for Goodrem's critics is the wardrobe budget will extend to costume changes across every episode until the season's grand finale.

The format changes reflect the network's request for more content from production company Shine and creators Talpa, after the series set ratings records last year, and will give the public its first chance to vote for their favourite artists.

Tonight, four contestants from Team Ricky and Team Seal will perform individually, while Monday night's program will see Team Joel and Team Delta singers appear.

Delta Goodrem in the controversial Lisa Ho pantsuit. Picture: Channel 9

Viewers will have until 6pm Monday to vote on Sunday's performances, with Monday's voting to roll directly into the live results show on Tuesday night.

Of the four singers from each team, the artist with the highest vote will move through directly to the finals, while the lowest is eliminated immediately.

The two singers left standing will then sing off for their coach's vote and another ticket into the finals.

Those who survived the battle rounds have had about four weeks to rehearse their 'showdown' song, chosen in consultation with their coach and if they find themselves in the sing-off will be asked to perform their original blind audition again.

Goodrem explained the repetition of the audition song was ''our chance to see how far they've grown, what they're still comfortable with or if they were just rehearsed at that one song. That's the psychology behind it - what's the real potential in what we first heard and of course, it's a reminder of what we loved about them.''

The public vote is about ''testing the relationship the artists have formed with people and that's really critical to what's going to help them have a career.''

If iTunes is any measure, Team Seal's Harrison Craig, Team Delta's Celia Pavey, Team Ricky's Caterina Torres and Team Joel's Michael Paynter are already tracking well with fans.

After Ben Goldstein delivered a rousing performance, Delta Goodrem had no option but to flirt with him to get him in her team. Courtesy: The Voice, Nine Network.

This week's performance shows were pre-recorded over two sessions on Friday night at Sydney's Fox Studios.

The Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am, who is a coach on The Voice in the UK, will perform live during Tuesday's results show.

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Darren spills beans on links to Delta

Darren McMullen, Delta Goodrem, Seal, Joel Madden, and Ricky Martin from The Voice Australia. Picture: Channel 9 Source: Supplied

WERE they, weren?t they?

Last year Voice host Darren McMullen and judge Delta Goodrem were careful to deny reports they were an item, a pretence they kept up even after numerous paparazzi pictures showed them out and about, dining in Sydney and driving and hiking in Los Angeles.

This morning McMullen finally came clean, admitting "we had something going on" in an interview with Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O on Austereo.

But he insisted “something” is all it was, saying "we were never dating".

"We were just two very young single people who would hold hands occasionally," the Scot said, adding "we are still very close".

The pair reportedly started their "something" in the early stages of filming The Voice Australia last year and were spotting kissing at Lady Gaga's Sydney show in June.

But by August it was apparently all over.
 

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