GARY BARLOW has shrugged off concerns over Let It Shine’s ratings battle with The Voice.
But he admits the talent show is “the riskiest thing I’ve ever done”.
The BBC and ITV are going head-to-head on Saturday nights and while BBC’s Let It Shine was ahead in its launch week, The Voice edged in front with six million viewers last week.
“I’m happy with the figures,” insists Gary, 45, who is looking to find five young lads to star in a new Take That musical.
“Everyone is comparing us to The Voice but that’s a worldwide brand.
“We’re a new show that’s never been done anywhere, so I’m thrilled we’re up there in the ballpark with them.
“I get a call on a Sunday with the figures but I try to stay out of it. The success of this show will be when the curtains open on this musical.
“The TV show for me is only half of this experience – it goes way beyond that.”
Gary revealed that he’d already spent way more than a year on the series, presented by Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc, and preparations for the stage show.
And despite his huge success both with Take That and as a solo artist, it was a major gamble.
“It’s a lot of risk, by far the riskiest thing I’ve ever been involved in.”
Part of the uncertainty was simply finding five youngsters good enough to make up a band and command a stage.
“I was afraid of the whole audition process,” confides Gary, who says the stage show will feature a surprising slant on the Take That story.
“The idea that we’d get nobody of any kind of talent was extremely worrying.
“You’re hoping it’s going to come from somewhere and they haven’t already gone to BGT or X Factor or The Voice.
“You hope you’ll get young people who’ll be good because I’ve got to spend a year with them. The stakes are so high.”
Having already insisted they weren’t seeking lookalikes, the judges faced a dilemma last Saturday when they were faced with Dan Budd, who bore an uncanny likeness to Robbie Williams.
“It was weird. Rob will freak out when he sees it,” says Gary.
Despite concerns over whether he could show more of his own personality, Gary and fellow judges Martin Kemp, Dannii Minogue and Amber Riley put him through to the live shows.
It was a good night for Scots hopefuls with Mark Angels, from Glasgow, and Edinburgh lad Jordan Harvey also going through.
Although it’s The Voice that Let It Shine is battling with, Gary is more used to being on ITV through his X Factor judging.
“It is different from X Factor,” adds Gary. “I really enjoyed it, but this is my show.”
Meanwhile, it was also a good night for Scots on The Voice, with Glaswegian dad Craig Ward, 31, choosing Tom Jones after Will.i.am and Gavin Rossdale also turned.
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