He writes, "In my opinion, 'The Voice' is absolutely the dullest, dumbest, most depressing programme on TV. It's also the ultimate insult to music and to performers.

"Every time I catch a glimpse of young singers busting their guts trying to win somebody's attention, who is rudely sitting with their back to the singer � I feel sick.

"It brings singing down to the level of a stupid obstacle course on 'It's A Knockout'. This is not � NOT � what music is about. When we sing, or play, for real, we are NOT screaming at the top of our lungs trying to persuade someone to notice us. We have messages, we have subtle emotions, we have beauty, which can only be shared by a performer in front of an audience whose whole attention is already freely given. The performance is all about EVERYTHING the performer gives � in voice, in sound, in body language, in facial expression, in intimate eye contact.

"This stupid, stupid idea that someone can JUDGE a singer by turning his back on him, and missing out on proper contact, is, to me, a fatuous nonsense. And actually poisonous to the growth of young performers.