Brian May, guitarist and songwriter for Queen, has attacked BBC talent show The Voice, calling it“poisonous”.

In an article on his personal website the musician said: “In my opinion, The Voice is absolutely the dullest, dumbest, most depressing programme on TV. It’s also the ultimate insult to music and to performers,” he said.

“I hate to see the great Tom Jones shoehorned into this scenario…it seems to deprive everyone who takes part of their dignity,” he added.

May wrote of his particular dislike of the knockout stage, saying: “It brings singing down to the level of a stupid obstacle course on ‘It’s a Knockout’. This is not- NOT- what music is about.”

He also took offence at the “blind audition” element of the programme’s format, where the judges choose singers based on their voice alone rather than looks.

“The performance is all about EVERYTHING the performer gives…in voice, in sound, in body, in language, in facial expression, in intimate eye contact,” he said.

“This stupid, stupid idea that someone can JUDGE a singer by turning his back to him, and missing out on proper contact, is, to me, a fatuous nonsense. And actually poisonous to the growth of young performers.”

He added: “I hope this vile programme dies a natural death very soon,” but later retracted his use of the word “vile” on Twitter.