The Voice coaches seen together for first time

Coaches for new BBC talent contest The Voice looking for Britain's next big thing have been photographed in action for the first time.

Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, Will.i.am and The Script's Danny O'Donoghue will be the judges and mentors for the BBC One series which begins in the coming weeks.

Contestants are chosen through 'blind' auditions, with the star names sitting with their backs to the wannabes allowing their abilities rather than their looks to shine through.

A spokesman said: "How you look, what you wear, your age, your size, your personality - none of that counts. In this competition, all that matters is your voice."

At the audition stage, each of the hopefuls takes to the stage and performs their chosen song for the coaches, each of whom is facing the other direction. If a coach is impressed, they hit a button which spins their chair to bring them face to face with the artist who lands a place on that coach's team.

However, if more than one chair turns, the contestant then chooses between coaches.

Each team will consist of 10 singers who will then be trained by their coach for the next stage of the contest to begin.

Later weeks will see the contestants going head-to-head with their own team mates in a sing-off in front of the studio audience, with their own coach choosing who should be sent home.

Eventually Tom, Will, Jessie and Danny will be left with five singers each to go through to live rounds where viewers will decide the winner.

The winner of The Voice will land a recording deal.