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Darren excited over new Voice

Darren McMullen. Picture: Getty Images

With blind auditions starting this week, the third season of The Voice Australia is kicking into gear and no one is more excited than host Darren McMullen.

The Scotsman revealed filming for the early stages of the Nine talent juggernaut began on Tuesday, when contestants had their first chance to perform and Celebrity coaches will select their teams for the remainder of the contest.

But with a shake-up of the panel having taken place and a spin-off show for youngsters to come soon, McMullen told Access All Areas things would be different this year.

"I can't believe what a great line-up we've got this year, it's considered probably one of the best line-ups in the world," he said.

"We've got Kylie Minogue, will.i.am, Ricky Martin and Joel Madden, not to mention The Voice Kids with Delta Goodrem, and Joel is doing that as well. What a fantastic line-up of musicians."

Though McMullen is confident the new coaches will breathe fresh life into the hit show, he admitted he was initially sceptical on whether The Voice would be able to deliver the kind of talent seen in the past two seasons.

"You keep wondering when the talent pool is going to dry up, especially in a country of 20-odd million people - it's not massive," he explained.

"But apparently there has been phenomenal talent discovered this year and certainly with Kids, a lot of people will be very surprised at just how amazing the little singers we have uncovered are."

But before the shows goes to air later this year, McMullen has a lot of work to do.

The presenter, who will make his debut in Darren McMullen's Outsiders for pay TV's National Geographic Channel next week, said he was preparing for long shifts and little sleep during Voice season.

"We do 16-hour days for the blind auditions but it's all worth it in the end," he said.

The Voice Australia is set to air on Nine/WIN after Easter.