The Voice Australia is set to premiere on Seven on Sunday after being completely revamped.
And now host Sonia Kruger, 55, has spoken about the new series and how she thinks Australians have plenty of talent.
Speaking to TV Tonight this week, Sonia also spoke about the new judges line-up, saying she was pleasantly surprised by British singer Rita Ora, 30.
Speaking out: The Voice host Sonia Kruger hit back at claims Australians have NO talent this week in a new interview – and revealed what surprised her most about coach Rita Ora
‘That attitude always surprises me, because not only are there huge amounts of untapped talent in the country,’ Sonia said.
She said the show was determined to find those ‘rough diamonds’ in the community.
Speaking about the coaches, Sonia said she thought singer Rita Ora was both beautiful and incredibly intelligent.
Beauty and brains! Speaking about the coaches, Sonia said she thought singer Rita Ora was both beautiful and incredibly intelligent
‘She’s beautiful, a British pop star -but she’s actually very well educated and really articulate,’ Sonia said.
She added: ‘I think that’s the thing that I loved about all of our coaches, but in particular Keith and Rita.’
The new lineup includes Rita, Keith Urban, Guy Sebastian and Jess Mauboy.
‘She’s beautiful, a British pop star -but she’s actually very well educated and really articulate,’ Sonia said
Rita, who is known for hits including For You and Your Song, flew into Sydney in February to film the show, before leaving for Los Angeles in early June.
She told The Daily Telegraph last month that she ‘didn’t want to leave’ after extending her stay in Australia.
‘I had the best time, enjoying the weather, the beautiful beaches. The food is unbelievable,’ she said.
‘Australia is the most amazing place, the most loving, welcoming place. I enjoyed every bit of it, getting in the water, sitting in the sun… I really felt like a true Aussie.’
‘I felt like a true Aussie’: Rita, who is known for hits including For You and Your Song, flew into Sydney in February to film the show, before leaving for Los Angeles in early June. She told The Daily Telegraph last month that she ‘didn’t want to leave’ after extending her stay in Australia
But she insisted her trip was also punctuated with ‘a lot of work’.
‘I set up a studio in the hotel room, I read a lot, I recorded a lot of music. Zoom was my best friend,’ she added.
Rita said performing at the Sydney Mardi Gras in March had ‘changed my life’, revealing it was the first time she’d been on stage since the start of the pandemic.
She’s a fan! While the new season of The Voice is yet to air, the Let Me Love You hitmaker said she was already keen to return
While the new season of The Voice is yet to air, the Let Me Love You hitmaker said she was already keen to return.
Rita made the most of her time Down Under, mingling with A-listers including Russell Crowe, Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Matt Damon, Isla Fisher and Tessa Thompson.
She also began dating New Zealand actor and filmmaker Taika Waititi, who was in Sydney to direct Thor: Love and Thunder.
New love: She also began dating New Zealand actor and filmmaker Taika Waititi, who was in Sydney to direct Thor: Love and Thunder