Revealed: The lengths BBC producers go to find 'new" talent on The Voice After Andrea Begley was crowned winner of The Voice, the BBC's £25 million television talent show, by public vote, many people including the show's judge Will.i.am claimed it should have gone to a more credible contestant such as Leah McFall. However, while the public have had their say over the eventual winner, Mandrake can now reveal the extraordinary lengths producers have gone to to find suitable contestants. While anyone is invited to enter the competition, producers have been approaching many artists who once had success in the industry to take part. This series saw Cleo Higgins formerly of Cleopatra, Danny Foster of Hear'Say and Bucks Fizz singer Jay Ashton all audition. Cheryl Baker, of Bucks Fizz, says the whole band were actually offered the chance to audition on the show. "We got a call from them asking if any of us wanted to audition," she tells me. Jay got in touch and said she was going to go for it but we decided not to go on ourselves. Ashton failed to progress past the first round. Mike Nolan, one of the group's male members, says viewers should be aware how much organising goes on backstage. "There is a lot behind the scenes that people don't see, they scout a lot of the contestants out," he tells Mandrake. "I wonder if the judge's know who they're putting through before they audition," Baker adds. "I don't know if it's the best route," she says. I think for Cleo it has been great but for the others it hasn't.