The Script star Danny O’Donoghue has weighed in on The Voice UK's new format.

The frontman is returning to the singing show alongside former judges will.i.am, Tom Jones and Jessie J.

This season will see a format shake-up, with half of its live shows being axed, as well as the opportunity for mentors to steal acts later on in the series.

Speaking about the introduction of the new options, O’Donoghue told The Sun: “When it comes to the chop, when I am down to six at the knockout stages, I can lose an artist but I can also take someone else’s. There will be a lot more opportunities to battle. I’m loving it."

He added: “It’s gloves off. We just go straight in.”

O’Donoghue also revealed that he's been spending quality time with his fellow judges in between filming.

He said: “We’ve been all hanging out backstage and Tom, I’m not going to lie, he drank me under the table on more than one occasion. Yeah man, five bottles of champagne at six o’clock in the morning — I didn’t know he was still able to do it.

He added: “We are staying in a hotel and I made a mistake. I tried to leave the room before a bottle was empty. Tom just clicked his fingers and said, ‘Sit back down’.”

This year's blind auditions have already been filmed.