The Voice 2021 panel LEAKED: Tones and I ‘confirmed for coaching role’ alongside Ricki-Lee Coulter

The Voice 2021 panel LEAKED: Tones and I ‘confirmed for coaching role’ alongside Ricki-Lee Coulter – and Mariah Carey could still be signing on

There has been much speculation as to who will join Seven’s new ‘cost-effective’ lineup of coaches on The Voice 2021.

And it appears two local names have already been leaked by industry insiders.

According to TV Blackbox on Tuesday, Australian singers Tones and I and Ricki-Lee Coulter have signed on for the upcoming season.

The Voice 2021 panel LEAKED: Tones and I ‘confirmed for coaching role’ alongside Ricki-Lee Coulter – and Mariah Carey could still be signing on. Pictured: Host Sonia Kruger

Tones and I shot to fame in 2019 with her track Dance Monkey, and Ricki-Lee remains a favourite with audiences after reaching the top seven on Australian Idol in 2004.

Since Seven jumped on the licence for The Voice, there have been many rumours on who would replace Boy George, Kelly Rowland, Delta Goodrem and Guy Sebastian.

Local judges, like Tones And I, are believed to be helping Seven cut down on costs, in comparison to Nine’s previous international and local hosts. 

The mystery source told TV Blackbox the network were still hoping to bring on a ‘big name’ to the panel, and intend to spend ‘almost half the budget’ on someone like Mariah Carey. 

Channel Seven declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.

New on the scene: Tones and I shot to fame in 2019 with her track Dance Monkey

Familiar face: Ricki-Lee remains a favourite with audiences after appearing on Australian Idol in 2004

Coming soon? According to TV Blackbox on Tuesday, Australian singers Tones and I (left) and Ricki-Lee Coulter (right) have signed on for the upcoming season

Getting the boot? It's been speculated that Seven will likely replace international stars Kelly Rowland (left) and Boy George (right) for mainly 'cost-effective' local stars

Getting the boot? It’s been speculated that Seven will likely replace international stars Kelly Rowland (left) and Boy George (right) for mainly ‘cost-effective’ local stars

Room in the budget? The mystery source told TV Blackbox the network were still hoping to bring on a 'big name' to the panel, and intend to spend 'almost half the budget' on someone like Mariah Carey (pictured)

Room in the budget? The mystery source told TV Blackbox the network were still hoping to bring on a ‘big name’ to the panel, and intend to spend ‘almost half the budget’ on someone like Mariah Carey (pictured)

Boy George, 59, previously rubbished claims Mariah was ‘in talks’ to replace long-serving judge Delta, tweeting: ‘she ain’t doing it!’ 

Just last month, a production source told The Daily Telegraph that Seven approached singers Lorde and Tones and I to join the 2021 coaching panel – likely to replace international stars Kelly Rowland and Boy George – as a cost-cutting tool.

The former Culture Club frontman also took aim at those reports at the time, insisting: ‘If the The Voice AU are suggesting that Lorde is cheaper than me then today is a great day! Lol!’  

'She ain't doing it!' Last month, Boy George responded on Twitter to the rumours the We Belong Together hit-maker, 50, was in negotiations

‘She ain’t doing it!’ Last month, Boy George responded on Twitter to the rumours the We Belong Together hit-maker, 50, was in negotiations

Too expensive? Delta, who is rumoured to earn between $1million to $2million a year, is said to be out of the network's price range

Too expensive? Delta, who is rumoured to earn between $1million to $2million a year, is said to be out of the network’s price range

Channel Seven’s CEO James Warburton has big changes in mind for the show, including cutting the number of episodes and having a tighter production schedule.

‘We have a whole new more efficient and cost-effective streamlined production and roll-out schedule which will concentrate the format over less episodes and shoot over a much shorter time frame,’ he said.

A Nine spokesperson said last month: ‘Unfortunately due to the age of the show and declining demographic profile, The Voice had become by far the poorest financial performer on our slate.

‘We wish Seven well in their quest to revive yet another Nine show.’ 

Darren McMullen and Renee Bargh, who presented the 2020 season, won’t be returning next year. They have been replaced by Sonia Kruger, who used to host the talent show on Nine until she defected to Seven last year. 

Locked in: The only confirmed talent is Sonia Kruger (pictured), who previously hosted the singing show on Nine and will front the 2021 series now she's signed to Seven

Locked in: The only confirmed talent is Sonia Kruger (pictured), who previously hosted the singing show on Nine and will front the 2021 series now she’s signed to Seven