The Voice UK star Ellie Harney left 'completely broken' after her beloved father died following her TV audition

The Voice UK star Ellie Harney has been left 'completely broken' after her beloved father died following her TV audition for the show.

The singing contest returned on Saturday night and featured Ellie - who uploaded a tribute to her late father Lee Way this week following his passing.

She shared an image of her dad's funeral details to Instagram on August 10 - just weeks before her episode aired.

Ellie penned: 'I have no words right now. I feel completely broken, and I don't know how life will ever be okay again.

'To me, you're still right here. I love you forever Dad. My best friend in the whole world'.

On her episode on Saturday she performed Billie Eilish hit Idontwannabeyouanymore and after the show penned another emotional message online.

She said: 'Tonight is all for you, my best friend.

'From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful for everyone's messages, love and support.

'My heart is hurting more than I can put into words, and I'm just so, so heartbroken that we're not sat together right now, with you singing my songs back to me all day just to prove that you knew every single lyric.

'I've genuinely never seen someone so excited for anything in my life haha, and I know you'll be right there with me tonight, probably singing louder than anyone.

'I love you always, my Dad. I promise I will never stop singing, and I'll keep sharing that magical connection you gifted me with everyone who needs to feel it.

'Everything I do, you'll be a part of. Tonight is for you.'

Ellie chose to join Team Tom and Danny after the pair turned round for her on the episode. 

It comes after last week it was reported that Cheryl is set for a huge TV comeback as a coach on the new series of The Voice UK.

The Girls Aloud star and former X Factor judge, 43, has not been on primetime TV in six years, with her last TV outing seeing her as a dance captain on BBC's The Greatest Dancer back in 2020.

However, it is now said that she's been in talks with show bosses 'for months', with filming for the new series kicking off on September 11 in Manchester. 

A source told The Sun: 'Every year producers ask Cheryl to go on the show, and it's a polite 'no' as the timing has never quite been right.

'This year it's different. She feels ready to re-enter the spotlight and talks are now in the final stages.'

The insider continued: 'Things could come crashing down but with three weeks to go until filming kicks off, the production team is working on the assumption she will be doing it. It helps that long-term friend Will.i.am will be beside her on the panel.'

The publication notes that negotiations are so far along that they've reached the stage of discussing Cheryl's hair and makeup budget for the show.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Cheryl and The Voice UK for comment.

If Cheryl does join the ITV show, it would add to the huge shake-up for the new series amid reports that Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon are set to replace departing host Emma Willis.