Daily News 19

Tag: The Voice of Holland

  • The Voice’s First Winner Ben Saunders Found Dead in Lake at 43

    The Voice’s First Winner Ben Saunders Found Dead in Lake at 43

    The Voice franchise is mourning the loss of its very first champion. Ben Saunders, the singer who rose to fame as the winner of The Voice of Holland in 2011—the inaugural season of the global competition format—has died. He was found dead on September…

    Breakthrough on The Voice of Holland

    Saunders made history when he claimed victory in the debut season of The Voice of Holland. His win marked the beginning of a television phenomenon that would soon be adapted in dozens of countries worldwide. The Dutch talent show, created by John de Mol, introduced the distinctive “blind audition” format that revolutionized televised singing competitions.

    Career After the Show

    Following his victory, Saunders released his debut single “Kill for a Broken Heart,” which topped the Dutch charts. He went on to release multiple albums and singles, establishing himself as a consistent presence in the Dutch music scene. His soulful voice and piano-driven pop style earned him a dedicated following beyond the initial publicity of the talent show.

    Legacy as the First Voice Winner

    As the first-ever winner of any Voice competition globally, Saunders held a unique place in television history. The format he helped launch has since produced hundreds of winners across continents, but Saunders remains the answer to a notable trivia question: who won the very first Voice?

  • Ben Saunders, Original Winner of ‘The Voice,’ Found Dead in Lake

    Ben Saunders, Original Winner of ‘The Voice,’ Found Dead in Lake

    Ben Saunders, winner of the inaugural season of The Voice of Holland, has been found dead in a recreational lake near Arnhem. The 43-year-old singer’s body was recovered from the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen at 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, according to police.

    Family confirms death; brother shares heartbreak

    Friends and family confirmed the death to De Telegraaf. Saunders’ brother, Dean, announced the loss in an Instagram post alongside a childhood photo of the two:

    “My dear little brother died today. I have never felt such pain as I feel now. What a dreadful day for us all.”

    Although formal identification is pending, Saunders was recognized by his distinctive tattoos and his prominence in the Gelderland biker community. Police stated the death is not being treated as a crime. Saunders had been reported missing earlier the same day.

    From London to Dutch stardom

    Born in London, Saunders moved to the Netherlands as a child with his English parents. He grew up in Hoorn, Noord-Holland, before settling in Arnhem, where he opened a tattoo parlour.

    His breakthrough arrived in 2011 when he won The Voice of Holland after impressing judges with his audition performance of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.” That same year, his brother Dean won Popstars; the pair had pursued TV talent contests for a decade, including the 2003 Dutch Eurovision selection. In the early 2000s they formed the band Follow That Dream.

    Saunders’ winning single, “Kill for a Broken Heart,” peaked at No. 4 on the Dutch Top 40, and his debut solo album, You Thought You Knew Me By Now, topped the Dutch charts upon its April 2011 release.

    Health struggles and legal troubles

    Fame proved short-lived. Saunders began experiencing health issues, telling De Telegraaf he suffered from a hernia that forced him to use a walking stick on stage. In 2016 he received a community-service sentence for abusing a traffic official and was ordered to compensate a café owner for property damage.

    Saunders was also a member of the outlaw motorcycle club Satudarah, which was banned in 2020 due to its involvement in organized violence and drug trafficking.