Kelis and Gareth Malone to judge new BBC talent show Pitch Battle

Bake Off’s Mel Giedroyc will host the group singing competition
Pitch perfect: Kelis to judge BBC's new singing show
Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

After losing The Voice to ITV, the BBC has announced a new talent competition coming to Saturday nights this summer.

Pitch Battle will see singing groups go head to head in a series of choral challenges including Pitch Perfect-inspired riff offs, soloist tasks and an a cappella round.

The BBC has tapped a roster of musical talent for the new show, with US singer Kelis, who started her career in a gospel choir, and the nation’s favourite choir master Gareth Malone acting as the head judges.

They’ll be assisted each week by a different third judge. The line-up includes Will Young, who knows a thing or two about singing competitions, having rose to fame after winning Pop Idol in 2001; Kiss From a Rose singer Seal; DNCE’s Joe Jonas, and disco queen Chaka Khan.

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Following her stint presenting the BBC’s search for a stage boy band Let It Shine with Graham Norton, the former Great British Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc will go it alone for the new programme.

“I am soooo excited to be presenting this new show and Pitch Battle will definitely be bringing some cracking music into people’s living rooms every Saturday!”, she said.

Adding: “Not only are we going to be joined by some brilliant groups and megastar judges each week but to top it all off my old mucker the original twisted choir starter Gareth Malone will be there too. What a combo!”

The six-part series will debut this summer on BBC one.

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