Guy Sebastian may be growing tired of his coaching role on The Voice as claims emerge the singer is a ‘total diva’ on set.
Guy, 42, has been in the coaching chair for six seasons now, and a Voice insider told Daily Mail Australia that the reality TV veteran’s temper had been growing thin.
‘A few of the crew noticed he was more demanding this year,’ the source revealed.
‘The rumours started while the show was being pre-recorded earlier this year – that Guy was a total diva on set and not easy to deal with.’
They added that, after six years on the reality show, the job’s novelty might be starting to wear a little thin.
‘It happens when you have been in those chairs for too long, which is why The Voice has the highest turnover of coaches than any other singing competition in the world,’ they said.
‘You can get irritable on those long days and, I assure you, the novelty does wear off.’
Despite the high turnover of coaches – 20 since the show’s 2012 premiere – Guy’s tenure is only second to Delta Goodrem, who holds the record with eight seasons at Channel Nine.
It appears that Guy Sebastian may be growing tired of his judging role on The Voice as claims emerge that the singer is a ‘total diva’ on set
‘Guy has been on the show for six seasons and that is around the time most coaches walk away,’ the source said.
‘The Madden Brothers walked away after five seasons. Boy George and Kelly Rolland only did four. The only other judge to stay longer in the chair was Delta Goodrem, who holds the record for eight seasons on Channel Nine.’
The source claimed one possible reason for Guy’s prickly on-set demeanour was the different production values at Seven compared to when the show aired on Nine.
‘The Voice Australia is also made for a lot less money these days, since the move to Channel Seven,’ the source said.
‘The budget on the old network was huge and every day of filming was like a rock concert.
‘Guy would remember what it was like to get that kind of rock star treatment and he does really notice the difference in production.’
The source added that Guy has possibly found it difficult adjusting.
‘You could imagine the diva demands of some of the international coaches back when this show first started. The benefits back then were out of control,’ they said
‘A few of the crew noticed he was more demanding this year,’ a source told Daily Mail Australia
‘You could ask for anything and the coaches had multiple handlers making sure that every little request was made.’
A source at Channel Nine told Daily Mail Australia the network let the show go due to rising production costs.
‘One of the reasons why Channel Nine let the show go was because of the rising cost,’ the Nine source said. ‘They didn’t want to make the sacrifices that Channel Seven has made.
‘Nine wouldn’t have wanted to pre-record the show like it is now and they didn’t think the show would work if they had pulled back the scale.’
The source claimed that one possible reason for Guy’s prickly on-set demeanour was the differing levels of production value on Seven compared to when the show aired on Channel Nine. Guy is pictured with fellow Voice coached Adam Lambert LeAnn Rimes and Kate Miller-Heidke
However, the source added that Nine was now regretting letting the popular show go, claiming the network ‘jealously’ watches the new season’s ratings.
‘Channel Nine has been regretting letting the show go and quite jealous of the ratings – especially with The Voice Australia beating The Block a number of times in the current ratings battle,’ they said.
The Voice source added the show’s shooting schedule had contributed to Guy’s ‘short temper’, made more obvious due to fellow coaches Adam Lambert, Kate Miller-Heidke, and LeAnn Rimes being new to the format.
‘The Voice Australia is also made for a lot less money these days, since the move to Channel Seven,’ the source said. ‘The budget on the old network was huge and every day of filming was like a ‘rock concert’
‘The days Channel Seven are filming are long and you have to give 150 per cent while the cameras are on,’ they said.
‘Guy had the shortest temper in comparison to LeAnn Rimes, Kate Miller-Heidke and Adam Lambert, and that was more obvious because it was all three of those coaches’ first time on a singing show like this.
‘I think that’s why producers noticed a change in his behaviour.’
Going further, the source also claimed that Guy had been ‘coaching’ his fellow cast-mates on where to spend their energy on the show, which had annoyed producers.
‘Guy was often giving the others tips on how to cut corners and what is worth putting your energy into and what isn’t,’ they said.
‘Guy had the shortest temper in comparison to LeAnn Rimes, Kate Miller-Heidke and Adam Lambert, and that was more obvious because it was all three of those coaches’ first time on a singing show like this,’ the source added
‘Some of the producers seemed to be a little miffed by that kind of negativity.’
It was also suggested that Guy could possibly sit out one season to reinvigorate his enthusiasm for the coaching gig, adding that the high price tag he attracts to appear on the show could keep him in the chair for some time yet.
‘Maybe it’s time to let Guy sit one season out, but there is no doubt he is the most popular judge on the show,’ the source said.
‘It would be a huge gamble to see how the show would go on without him.
‘Guy has the highest price tag and that is up against the cost of international coaches. I wonder if he is ready to walk away from that kind of cash.’
Sebastian is certainly no stranger to the reality TV show format – a side-hustle he has fostered in tandem with a successful singing career.
After winning the inaugural 2003 season of Australian Idol the singer went on to appear in numerous televised singing competitions including as a mentor on the first season of the short-lived It Takes Two.
In 2010 Guy joined the cast of X-Factor, sitting in the judges chair alongside Natalie Imbruglia, Kyle Sandilands, and Ronan Keating.
He eventually left the show after season four, returning two years later alongside Chris Isaak, Dannii Minogue, and James Blunt.
The Like It Like That hitmaker then replaced Joe Jonas on The Voice, sitting alongside Delta Goodrem, Kelly Rowland and Boy George.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Sebastian, Channel Seven and Channel nine for comment.
‘Guy was often giving the others tips on how to cut corners and what is worth putting your energy into and what isn’t,’ they said
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