Danny O'Donoghue quits The Voice

(Image credit: BBC/Wall to Wall)

Danny O'Donoghue will not be returning to The Voice, he has announced.

The Irish heartthrob, who won the BBC One show this year with partially-sighted singer Andrea Begley, is following in the footsteps of Price Tag star Jessie J, who recently announced she was leaving.

He said that he will not be back as coach next year because of recording commitments with his band The Script.

The announcement leaves half of the four-strong panel of coaches - which also featured Sir Tom Jones and Will.i.am - no longer attached to the BBC show.

Danny said: "I had two wonderful seasons on The Voice and as everybody knows I gave it my heart and soul and couldn't be more proud of the show and what we have achieved.

"My focus will be on The Script moving forward as we are about to embark on the most important part of our career as a band."

Mark Linsey, BBC controller, entertainment commissioning, said: "Danny has been an absolute star - and a winner - on The Voice but we understand that he, like Jessie, has to focus on his music career and The Script have such an incredibly busy year ahead.

"The Voice coaches are all current music stars with recording and touring careers to manage alongside the show and we know this can be difficult to juggle. We are very sorry to see Danny go but wish him and the band the very best and hope they will come back and perform for us next series."

The BBC said that the full coaches' line up for the third series will be announced in due course.

Victoria Wilson
Feature Writer for What’s on TV, TV Times, TV & Satellite Week and WhatToWatch.com

With over 20 years’ experience writing about TV and film, Vicky currently writes features for What’s on TV, TV Times, TV & Satellite Week magazines plus news and watching guides for WhatToWatch.com, a job which involves chatting to a whole host of famous faces. Our Vicky LOVES light entertainment, with Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice UK among her fave shows. Basically, if it’s got a shiny floor, she’s all over it! When she’s not watching TV, you might find Vicky in therapy… retail therapy that is!