Seal tells of his deep affection for Voice co-star Delta Goodrem while defending her against online haters

STAR Voice coach Seal has passionately defended pop princess Delta Goodrem against online haters and vitriolic keyboard warriors, saying he “sits there in awe” while watching her work.

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STAR Voice coach Seal has passionately defended pop princess, Delta Goodrem, against online haters and vitriolic keyboard warriors.

Seal has told of his deep affection for Goodrem and paid tribute to her maturing talent, saying she had got better with age and that she was teaching him new lessons on The Voice.

“She is perhaps the most professional musician I have ever met,” Seal said.

“Needless to say she is incredibly talented and her work ethic and her understanding of her craft is incredible and I sit there in awe, sometimes, watching her work.

“I don’t know if Australia really gets to see that a lot, of how hard she works and how good she is from a musician’s perspective.”

The 2017 Voice coaches: Boy George, Kelly Rowland, Delta Goodrem and Seal.

Goodrem has been routinely savaged online and on social media during The Voice this season, with criticism ranging from her appearance, wardrobe choices, chair dancing, her button-pushing technique and her exchanges with contestants. But Seal said he could not understand why she attracted haters and said she had improved as a coach over recent years.

He said his relationship with Goodrem, with whom he has previously been romantically linked, had changed since he appeared on The Voice in 2012 and 2013 until now, when he return to the show for the 2017 season.

“I think the difference in Delta perhaps, or our dynamic, from four years ago to now is that I find myself learning from her,” he said.

“I watch her work and I watch her coach and I find myself learning from her.

“I think she is a better coach than she ever was now. I think that she cares as much as any of us.

Winner: Seal with Karise Eden who he coached to win The Voice in 2012.

“Australia should be really proud of what they have with Delta because it is not easy to do what

she does.”

Seal rejoined The Voice this year after a four year break. He has previously coached Karise Eden and Harrison Craig to victory in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

He said his return was motivated by wanting to discover an international star via the show.

“I have been miffed at the fact that there has not been a global success. There is such great talent, Karise has been one and Harrison another,” he said.

“I am confused as to why there has not been the latest kind of Australian global success story coming through the channels of this show. That did not sit well with me so I came back to try and put that right.

“I do feel in all of the territories that this show exists I feel that this is the one with the most credibility, I feel that it is the one with the greatest diversity with regard to talent and the highest level of talent.”

Winning again: Seal with Harrison Craig who he coached to win The Voice in 2013.

Seal, who was married to supermodel Heidi Klum and dated Erica Packer, said he was delighted to be back spending time in Australia.

“Australia is a very proud country. I always describe Australia as being a blue collar country with kind of affluent overtones. There is a lot to be proud about if you are an Australian and you don’t suffer fools easy.”

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