Sir Tom Jones is set to leave The Voice UK as a full-time coach after 13 seasons, but the legendary singer has made it clear that walking away was not his decision. The 86-year-old Welsh singer, who has been part of the coaching panel since the show’s launch in 2012 apart from a one-season break, revealed that ITV decided not to bring him back as a full-time coach for the upcoming 15th season.
Jones said he was only informed about the decision recently, despite claiming it had been made some time ago. His comments have now put a spotlight on what happened behind the scenes, particularly after reports suggested that ITV wanted to “refresh” the show’s coaching line-up.
So, why is Tom Jones leaving The Voice UK? Here’s what the singer has said.
Why Is Tom Jones Leaving The Voice UK?
According to Jones, he did not choose to leave the long-running singing competition. In a statement shared on Instagram, the singer said ITV made the decision and explained that he was given a specific reason for being dropped from the coaching panel.
“To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice as l love the show and really appreciate the audience. ITV made this decision — obviously a while ago, and I was told just recently. The reason given is because of a financial difficulty with insurance,” Jones wrote.
Jones also addressed reports that ITV wanted to give the show a new look with a different coaching line-up. “They now say in the press they wanted to ‘refresh’ the show, and with a new coaching line-up there wouldn’t be a chair for me,” he wrote.
Was Tom Jones Fired From The Voice UK?
Jones himself used the word “fire” while discussing his departure, making his position on the matter clear. Although ITV has described the change in terms of Jones no longer being a full-time coach, the singer said he was offered a considerably smaller role for the new season.
“They are offering a much-reduced role where I would make an appearance but without being actually involved from the start, and I’m not thrilled about that,” Jones said.
He then ended his statement with a pointed remark about his age and continued ability to do the job. In his words, “So the only thing I know right now, is that there’s never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who’s still pretty good at his job.”
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What Has ITV Said About Tom Jones’ Exit?
ITV’s position is somewhat different from Jones’ description of the situation. A spokesperson for The Voice UK said the programme had enjoyed working with Jones and confirmed that he would no longer be a full-time coach in Season 15.
“We have loved working with Sir Tom Jones over the past nine years on The Voice UK. Whilst he will no longer be a full-time coach on series 15, we continue to talk to Sir Tom and his team about his involvement in the next series,” the spokesperson said.
How Long Has Tom Jones Been On The Voice UK?
Jones has been one of the defining faces of The Voice UK since the beginning. He joined the coaching panel when the show premiered in 2012 and, apart from sitting out Season 5 in 2016, remained a fixture on the programme. He later returned after the show moved from BBC One to ITV.
Over his time on the programme, Jones coached three winning acts: Leanne Mitchell in the first season, Ruti Olajugbagbe in Season 7 and Anthonia Edwards in Season 11. His departure therefore marks a major change for a show where he has been part of the coaching identity for more than a decade.
Who Could Replace Tom Jones On The Voice UK?
The coaching panel is already expected to look very different in Season 15. Reports have suggested that former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl could take Jones’ place, while rapper Aitch is also reportedly set to join the panel. Will.i.am and Kelly Rowland are expected to remain, although ITV has not officially announced the complete Season 15 coaching line-up.
