North East busking duo win 12th series of The Voice

North East busking duo Jenna Cole and Olivia Irwin, known for their performances in north-east England, emerged as the winners of the 12th series of The Voice, securing a recording contract.

Jenna Cole and Olivia Irwin, the duo who have performed around north-east England, have won a recording contract.

A singing duo hailing from north-east England, Jenna Cole and Olivia Irvin, known as Jen & Liv, emerged victorious in the recent season of ITV’s singing competition, The Voice. Under the mentorship of Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, they clinched the title.

Jen, aged 21 and from Whitley Bay, along with Liv, aged 24 and from Spennymoor, secured a recording contract with Universal Music, £50,000 in cash, and a holiday in Mauritius as their prize for triumphing in the competition.

Expressing their elation, Liv mentioned feeling “amazing” and highlighted the significant impact of working alongside Will.i.am, describing it as “life changing.”

Their standout performances during the final included renditions of Whitney Houston’s “I’m Every Woman” and Beyonce’s “Break My Soul,” where they collaborated with Will.i.am.

Before their success on The Voice, Jen & Liv showcased their talents as buskers at various locations across the North East, notably in Newcastle.

In the ultimate round, they triumphed over Hope Winter from Greenwich, Jolie Stevens from Cardiff, and Callum Doignie from Telford.

Liv expressed her gratitude, saying, “We’re incredibly thankful for this. It’s been a journey of hard work, and our families mean everything to us. To our coaches, especially Will, your impact on us has been life-changing. We feel absolutely amazing. Thank you all.”

Will.i.am drew parallels between Jen & Liv’s bond and his friendship with Apl.de.Ap, a founding member of the Black Eyed Peas.

He reflected, “Watching these girls, it’s reminiscent of my connection with Apl. It’s about genuine appreciation and unwavering support for each other. It takes me back to the person I built my aspirations with—my best friend.”

The grand finale of The Voice’s 12th series aired on ITV on December 30.