Chaka Khan has promised to be “honest but nice” when she appears as a guest judge on Pitch Battle.

The singer will join regular judges Gareth Malone and Kelis on the show on Saturday as choirs fight it out to be crowned the UK’s best vocal group.

Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan said she will be ‘honest’ with the Pitch Battle contestants (Cody Burridge/PA)

Each week a different guest judge will join the choirmaster and the Milkshake singer, including Seal, Joe Jonas and Bebe Rexha. Will Young took up the guest spot on the panel last weekend.

Khan said she is looking for “great voices,” adding: “It’s a great vehicle for young people to get out there to see what it is like.

“There is so much pressure in the music industry and it’s so hard for them.”

The judges with host Mel Giedroyc (BBC)

She continued: “I am going to be honest. I am going to be nice but I am going to be honest. I won’t tell them they are bad. It’s all about self-expression.”

However, she said she is not looking for singers to pull at her heartstrings and would rather see their ambition.

She said: “I like to see people pursue their dreams, to see how far they go and that’s what it is all about. It’s quite simple.”

Chaka Khan (Ian West/PA)

In this week’s episode, all-female pop choir The City Academy Songbirds will compete with soul singers Soul Train, childhood friends from Loch Lomond Scot Soul, YouTube a cappella sensations Out Of The Blue, rat pack-inspired quartet The Flyboys and pop choir The Noteables.

The winning group will get to sing with Khan and she said she is happy they are so excited about the prospect.

“Bless their hearts. I think it is adorable,” she said.

Chaka Khan (Yui Mok/PA)

“I am happy to be anything they think I am for them. It’s that energy and joy and I like to be part of something where someone is trying to attain a dream.”

She also offered some words of advice to the contestants, urging them: “Don’t let what happens today define what is going to happen for the rest of your life.

“Keep moving. If this doesn’t work out the way you like it, don’t stop. I like to be true to myself and that’s the most important thing to anybody. In life, be true to yourself.”

Pitch Battle continues on BBC One at 7.30pm on June 24.