By Mail On Sunday Reporter

PUBLISHED: 19:33 EST, 19 May 2012 | UPDATED: 19:34 EST, 19 May 2012


Producers of The Voice have been told they must pull in three million more viewers for the last two shows if the series is not to be considered a disaster.

The BBC's talent contest initially beat ITV1 rival Britain's Got Talent in the ratings war but last week's figures saw those numbers plummet by almost half since their peak in April.

According to TV insiders, there is serious concern among BBC executives that the 22?million spent on buying the format from Big Brother creator John de Mol has been a waste of licence-fee money.

They have told Wall to Wall, the company producing the show, that they need audiences of at least eight million to make the investment worthwhile.

Disaster: The Voice needs 3m more views to secure another series

Disaster: The Voice needs 3m more views to secure another series

'There have been frantic calls and emails,' said a source. 'The BBC wanted a far edgier show.'

Another series is already paid for but it's thought new judges may replace the current team of Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J, Will.i.am and Danny O'Donoghue.

Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC1, said yesterday he was 'thrilled' with the show, adding: 'I couldn't be happier.'

Kylie Minogue and Cheryl Cole will perform during the final two episodes – this Saturday and on June 2 – in an attempt to boost ratings.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The Voice, for me, became 'dull and formaic' by the end of the first show, and I found it quite irritating. It was all about the judges right from the start, as they each had their own desperate camera-hogging agenda (especially Jessie J - the middle-class girl whose deliberately dropped consonants in words with middle-ts - which got right under my skin!!). However, the most irritating, raspy, loud voice of all was that of Cleavage Clara, Holly Willoughby. I hung on for a few weeks, but gave up watching three weeks ago. I want more family-friendly serialised drama, please, BBC. It's what you do best.

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Was good now it's rubbish. Can't stand Jessie. Grudge paying my license fee as this was the first time I had watched anything on the BBC for years.

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The BBC should rehire all the old talent that THEY trained and then fired and not be purchasing formats from production companies. Then the BBC should get back to making some decent documentary and informative work. Instead of being the single contributor to the dumbing-down of UK society.

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Sir Tom Jones is the only judge who is able to put his thoughts into words and actually finish a sentence. Unfortunately I couldn't hear much of his comments on some contestants last night because Will and Danny kept interrupting and talking over him, which is just plain rude. Jessie J is hopeless at expressing herself effectively, and I struggle to understand what Will.i.am is talking about (probably due to my age, as I'm in my 50s). Danny is better than Jessie or Will at making his points, but is still not very good at it, and all three of them can't seem to think of much more to say than, "I'm so proud of you", or something similar. The show is also on too early, certainly for me. I'm either still out in the garden or cooking tea, so I missed Max and Bo's performances last night.

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According to TV insiders, there is serious concern among BBC executives that the 22?million spent on buying the format from Big Brother creator John de Mol has been a waste of licence-fee money. ........................And who are these "insiders"?? The usual DM suspects: Simon Cowell and Max Clifford????!!!!!!!

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Watched it this weekend and was "underwelmed". William seemed to be the only one actually doin any sort of realistic critique on the acts and tom jones often looked like he needed prodding with a stick. As for holly willoby.........."Well i thought you were amazing "great" blah blah soon becomes nausiatingly irritating as its reeled of reguardless of there performances but of course the dress was quite revealing so i spose her "talent" was on display. BRING ON THE WALL!,was more entertaining or that show with the big red balls,i think its about time to bring back "Its a knockout".

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the choice of songs for the contestants are dreadful - probably all aimed at the under 30 age group - so whilst young people are not the audience as they are getting ready to go out the rest of us switch off and read a book (or whatever) - no wonder there is no audience. Danny Cohen learn there is more to BBC1 than the under 30s.

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Why do all reality shows think replacing the judges is the answer to their prayers?! Viewers prefer to see familiar faces, not new ones for every series! The format of the programme needs altering, not the judges.

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Most of the time... Will looks bored; Jessie looks desperate; Tom looks confused and Danny looks amateur.

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Cheryl Cole as a judge? Why on earth? How could she coach these singers when she can hardly sing herself? I liked the show at the beginning though I thought it was ridiculous how many has-beens they brought on. They have had their fame, earned their fortunes let them pay their own way back into the limelight. But where it falls down is noone seems to have a clue what's happening - least of all the show-makers! no-one explains the format. You have no idea how the original acts were 'discovered' to audition. You feel like you only see half a show every week. It's disjointed only seeing half the contestants and if you like one in particular you want to see them competing every time. And don't even get me started on the appalling song choices. And the stylist needs sacking. Awful outfits. No doubt I'll be hung for this but the bald lady looks sexy in her scarfs - so why does she choose to go bald for her performances? Yes it is of course all about the voice but still...

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