The Voice is over for another year, but the coaches are said to already be pushing for a bigger deal for 2020, with some saying they’ll quit if their demands are not met.
A source reveals exclusively that the Nine Network show is scrambling to secure the stars for next year, and Guy Sebastian, Delta Goodrem and Boy George are all fighting to increase their earnings after the success of this year’s season.
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“Channel Nine are keen to have exactly the same coach panel as this year, as they think it is the perfect line-up, especially with Guy being the standout coach with audiences this year,” an insider tells New Idea.
“Nine wanted to sign them up for next year before this year’s series ended. But the feisty coaches are playing hardball.”
And with the three stars – it’s unsure whether fourth coach Kelly Rowland will return next year – angling to receive the biggest pay day, tensions are said to be running high within the foursome themselves, as big personalities begin to clash.
“Guy knows he was a winner, so is demanding more money to be on parity with George and Delta,” alleges our source.
However, with this year’s winner Diana Rouvas taking out the top spot under George’s mentorship, he has some serious negotiating power on his side.
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“George, whose artist won this year, knows he is in the box seat,” reveals the source.
“He has a very tough international manager who was in Australia but they both left the country without signing, knowing they can up the ante with Nine for 2020.”
It’s not the first time the British star has been accused of diva antics when it comes to the show.
“During the blind auditions, Boy George got up and stormed off the set without saying a word,” says an onlooker.
“The other judges and the audience weren’t told anything at the time and the whole production was held up until he returned to the stage.
“It later came out that he was offended by the contestant’s comment at the time, but his reaction was very dramatic.”
Meanwhile, homegrown sweetheart Delta is eager to maintain her spot as the favourite.
“Delta knows Guy’s had a lot of popularity this year but still wants to be ‘top dog’ on The Voice,” explains our source. This has led to the 34-year-old holding out on locking down a final agreement for next season.
“She also hasn’t signed for 2020, wanting not only a pay rise but a guaranteed number of live performances next year during The Voice and other Nine Network shows, like the Logie,” says the source.
The insider also added that the singer plays the diva on set.
“After each performance the stylists come rushing out to fix up the coaches – Delta in particular kept asking for her hair to be fixed,” they said.
“It’s like they were all desperate for attention and trying to compete for the ‘biggest star’ title.”
While Delta once dated fellow coach Guy, there’s been an undercurrent of tension between the pair ever since the Australian Idol winner joined the coaching panel this year, with a source saying Delta had been unhappy about the “newbie who has stolen her eight-year-old crown, which she thinks she owns!”
The coaches’ apparent hardball tactics come off the back of even more rumoured diva behaviour at the recent TV Week Logie Awards on June 30.
“After they didn’t win, all The Voice coaches and their contestants spat the dummy and walked out,” says a source.
“As the table was now empty, Star staff had to run in and remove The Voice table completely in front of everyone. Other guests thought it was incredible!”
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