For over a decade, The Voice Australia has promised aspiring singers the chance of a lifetime – mentoring from superstar coaches, a fair shot at stardom, and the dream of being ‘discovered.’
But behind the glossy façade lies a very different story.
A combination of insider testimony, leaked claims and past contestants’ confessions has exposed the real secrets of the show.
Daily Mail can now reveal the most explosive truths from behind the big red chairs.
There’s Not Much Mentoring
Former contestants have slammed the lack of real guidance once cameras stop rolling.
For over a decade, The Voice Australia has promised aspiring singers the chance of a lifetime – mentoring from superstar coaches, a fair shot at stardom, and the dream of being ‘discovered’
Daily Mail can now reveal the most explosive truths from behind the big red chairs
‘They sell us this dream of being mentored by huge names, but honestly it feels so shallow,’ one performer admitted.
‘The coaches barely take time for you – it’s like they’re playing a role for TV and don’t really connect with you.’
This echoes revelations from past winners like Lachie Gill, who confessed he never heard from coach Rita Ora again after the show wrapped.
You May Never Hear From the Coaches Again
Despite teary pledges of ‘I’ll always be here for you,’ several winners say contact ends the second the finale wraps.
Lachie Gill told the Herald Sun that he never spoke to Rita Ora again.
Even Guy Sebastian has acknowledged coaching often ends with the cameras.
Daily Mail previously reported that Sebastian admitted producers guide much of the process – from song choice to chair spins – rather than letting genuine mentorship flourish.
‘They sell us this dream of being mentored by huge names, but honestly it feels so shallow,’ one performer admitted
What’s Really in Those Red Books
Fans believe the coaches turn purely on instinct – but those little red folders on their laps tell another story.
Guy revealed producers brief coaches with notes on contestants, including what state they’re from and whether a song is original.
‘It’s all fed to us just like, what state they’re from,’ Sebastian said. ‘Sometimes we get told if it’s a cover or a B-side. It’s not completely spontaneous.’
Yes, It’s Scripted
Sebastian also admitted producers prime coaches on when a contestant will deliver a ‘big’ moment.
‘They’ll have some people that are pretty good, then suddenly we’ll get told “this is the wow singer”,’ he confessed.
Daily Mail has previously reported claims of ‘rigged’ eliminations – including Guy’s decision to send Eden home in favour of Skye, who had existing ad contracts, sparking fury among viewers who branded the result ‘blatantly obvious’ and ‘rigged.’
Fans believe the coaches turn purely on instinct – but those little red folders on their laps tell another story
‘If there’s one coach that hasn’t pressed their button, to make it more interesting, you may as well give it to them,’ an insider revealed
They’re Told When to Turn
Perhaps the most damning claim: producers reportedly script chair turns.
‘If there’s one coach that hasn’t pressed their button, to make it more interesting, you may as well give it to them,’ an insider revealed.
That means the dramatic ‘will they, won’t they’ suspense may be more television choreography than genuine instinct.
Contestants ‘Bribed’ Into Auditioning
One anonymous source alleged her friend was guaranteed a spot after being convinced to audition.
‘She was told she’d go straight through to the Blind Auditions,’ they claimed.
This undermines the show’s credibility as a level playing field – suggesting that even before the blinds, producers stack the deck.
Multiple Endings Are Filmed
Last year’s winner Reuben De Melo admitted it was tough to fake his reaction when four alternate endings were filmed.
In 2020, Chris Sebastian also confessed contestants had to reshoot acceptance speeches with confetti and sparklers until producers had multiple ‘finale options’ to edit together.
‘It was a test of everyone’s acting abilities,’ he said.
Gag Clauses & Silenced Stars
As Daily Mail has revealed in past exclusives, contestants are bound by strict NDAs.
Speaking out risks legal action or financial penalties.
That’s why few contestants publicly discuss their grievances – at least until their contracts expire.
Ratings Woes & Format Failures
Even producers admit that the ratings collapse after the Blind Auditions.
A former EP warned the show has failed to launch a single breakout chart star, calling it a ‘huge red flag’ for longevity.
With frequent coach changes – most recently Guy Sebastian’s shock exit – and an overreliance on imported judges like Melanie C and Richard Marx, fans say the format feels increasingly stale.
The Voice has survived scandal after scandal – from Guy Sebastian’s brother winning the show to Jason Derulo’s outside legal troubles – but these secrets expose a darker truth: what viewers see is less about raw talent and more about a spectacle.
For aspiring singers, the dream of stardom may just be another television illusion.
Daily Mail has reached out to Channel Seven for comment.
