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The BBC is set to pay a further £22 million to keep The Voice UK next year.


It was previously reported that bosses were set to ditch the talent contest, over fears it would be ‘politically difficult’ to justify the format’s huge price tag.

However, yesterday Broadcast claimd that the BBC were in talks with production company Talpa to bring it back for a third series in 2014.

According to The Sun newspaper, BBC are keen to sign up again, but won’t be getting any discounts.

“The Beeb feels it’s a great show and you need to pay the big bucks for programmes like that,” a source told the newspaper.

Outgoing BBC One controller Danny Cohen brought The Voice to the UK last year in a two-year deal worth £22million.

The first series had a consolidated average audience of 9.2million viewers, but ratings fell between the blind auditions stage and the live shows.

It returned for its second run in April, with figures rising steadily throughout the auditions, peaking at 9.57million viewers. However, the first Battle Rounds two weeks ago fared slightly worse, drawing around 7million.

Although the ratings have fluctuated, chiefs are believed to consider The Voice a success, with one source telling Broadcast that it would have to have been a ‘complete turkey’ to warrant being axed.