The Voice Kids’ Ronan Keating on his fatherly approach to coaching: ‘I wanted to make sure they’re protected’

Ronan Keating has said he’s took a “father’s approach” to coaching this year’s hopefuls on The Voice Kids.

The Boyzone star, 45, has joined will.i.am, McFly’s Danny Jones and Pixie Lott on the coaching panel for the latest instalment of the singing series to impart some wisdom from his 29-year-long career.

As well as his music career, he also juggles another important role, being a father-of-five, having welcomed three kids, Jack, 23, Missy, 21, and Ali, 17, with his former partner Yvonne Connolly, and two children, five-year-old Cooper and Coco, two, with his current wife Storm.

With over two decades of fatherhood under his belt, Keating said it was a natural instinct to think of his own children when judging the contestants so was “incredibly” careful in his critiques while also ensuring not to “give them false hope”.

Speaking to The Standard at the show’s launch, he shared: “My kids are my world and mean everything to me. My son is 23 and he’s like my best mate. I was only a kid when I had him, I was a father before I was a man.

“I learnt a lot about myself at that age, I was 22, and then understanding children in the years that followed.

“So, for me I see my children in every contestant that stands on stage and I’m thinking, ‘my God, you’ve got to think about every single word you say because it’s incredibly important’.

“I very much take a father’s approach to every contestant that walks on stage and try and handle it with kid gloves and look after them and make sure they’re protected.

“You don’t want to upset them, or you don’t want to hurt them but at the same time you don’t want to give them false hope, which is as important, so I hope that [my paternal instinct] comes across.”

Although a proud dad, the Irish star revealed is set to undergo a vasectomy after welcoming his fifth child, Coco, in 2020, explaining that he and his other half are “very happy” with their brood.

“Not yet, soon, very soon actually,” he teased. “I’ve five incredible kids, I’m happy, I’m very lucky. We don’t want… We’re very happy.”

Aside from fatherhood, the Life Is A Rollercoaster hitmaker is no stranger to talent shows having judged X Factor Australia, and The Voice Australia.

Now swapping the Aussie judging panels for a stint on a UK one, Keating insisted that he’s not eyeing up a role on the adult’s instalment of the singing series, and is already hoping for another shot at The Voice Kids next year.

He said: “It would be great fun of course but they’ve got a great panel, who could replace Olly Murs, Sir Tom Jones, Anne-Marie, and Will.i.Am?

“I’m happy where I am. This is my panel. I hope, they keep me next year, so we’ll see.”

The Voice Kids returns to ITV and ITVX on Boxing Day at 8:30pm