viewers were left speechless after a former winner failed to make it through to the next round.
Richard Hadfield delivered a powerful performance of a Sir Tom Jones tune, leaving the audience up on their feet and even presenter Emma Willis stunned after no coach turned their chair for him.
The opera singer was a member of Collabro, who a musical theatre group who won the eighth series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2014.
Collabro also consists of Michael Auger, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan and Thomas J. Redgrave, who announced in August this year that their next tour will be their last.
Richard announced his departure from the band in 2016, and has now decided to go it alone after building up the courgae.
On Saturday’s The Voice, he blew viewers away with his strong vocals but, sadly, it wasn’t enough to win over will.i.am, Olly Murs, Anne Marie, or even Sir Tom himself.
After a deflated Richard left the stage, 2002 hitmaker Anne Marie praised his vocal, but admitted it was ‘too classical’ for her.
Meanwhile, Sir Tom said Richard actually sang the song with a stronger vocal than he did originally, but it just wasn’t to be.
Taking to Twitter to express their shock at Richard’s rejection, viewers branded him a ‘phenomenal singer’ and said the coaches should’ve turned for him.
‘Gutted for Richard he should have got through’, one person tweeted.
‘richard hadfield not getting a turn is such an injustice?’, another wrote.
A third viewer tweeted: ‘seriously what are they hearing we a not? Richard from Collabro was leagues ahead of the rest. Exceptional voice’, accusing the judges of being ‘poor judges of talent.’
But Richard hasn’t let the experience knock his confidence, as he shared a video message to his Instagram followers after the show aired on ITV.
Thanking viewers for their support, he wrote: ‘It was an experience and I loved every minute singing. Obviously gutted but I carry on being a professional singer ? coming somewhere near you very soon I’m sure’, encouraging people to ‘keep your eyes peeled’ for his tour dates.
The Voice continues next Saturday at 8pm on ITV.
