Sir Tom Jones fumes ‘I did NOT want to leave’ as he slams ITV in first statement after The Voice axe
Sir Tom Jones has broken his silence on his departure from The Voice UK, claiming that ITV effectively sacked him from the singing competition he has been part of since its launch in 2012.
The 86-year-old Welsh music icon took to Instagram and X to make clear that leaving the programme was not his choice.
“To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice as I love the show and really appreciate the audience,” he wrote.
The veteran performer, whose hits include It’s Not Unusual and Delilah, said the broadcaster had taken the decision “a while ago” but that he “was told just recently”.
Sir Tom Jones will not be returning to The Voice as a judge
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ITVHis remarks follow reports earlier this week that he had been stood down as a full-time coach ahead of the 2027 series.
In his statement, Sir Tom revealed that the reason he was given centred on “financial difficulty with insurance”. However, he noted that ITV had publicly framed the move as an effort to “refresh” the programme with a new coaching lineup that left no chair available for him.
The channel has proposed a scaled-back arrangement in which he would appear on the show without participating from the outset, he said.
“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,” he wrote.
— Tom Jones (@RealSirTomJones) September 8, 2026
He concluded with a rather pointed observation: “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.”
An ITV source had previously told the Press Association: “ITV absolutely loves working with Sir Tom. They are in talks with him and are hopeful he will return to the series.”
Behind the scenes, however, the network is understood to be planning a significant overhaul of the coaching panel for the forthcoming series.
According to Metro, rappers Aitch and Cheryl are set to join the lineup, alongside returning coaches Will.i.am and Kelly Rowland.
Sir Tom Jones was one of the longest-serving coaches on the show alongside will.i.am
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ITVOne show source explained there had been a widespread feeling that the upcoming run “needed a major refresh”, while another insisted the network was “working very hard behind the scenes to make this work”.
GB News has contacted ITV for comment.
Within moments of sharing his statement on X, fans rallied around the 86-year-old singer. “Even some of the youngest singers still chose Tom over the other coaches. Bizarre decision,” one fan fumed.
A second echoed: “ITV’s decision to replace you with Cheryl Cole and some third-rate rapper is horrific. I like Cheryl, but she’s nowhere near you. And as for the rapper, have they lost their heads?”
Sir Tom Jones is one of Britain’s best known artists
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GETTYAnother weighed in: “F*** em, Sir Tom… ratings, if they haven’t already, will tank and plummet. You’re a legend and always will be. A Welsh hero.”
And a fourth added: “The Voice is nothing if Sir Tom Jones isn’t on it; Sir Tom is the only reason I watched the show. Shame on them for getting rid of an incredible artist like Sir Tom; I hope viewers switch off until you’re reinstated.”
Sir Tom’s tenure on The Voice has been remarkably successful, with three of his acts winning the competition: Leanne Mitchell in the inaugural series, Ruti Olajugbagbe in series seven, and Anthonia Edwards in series eleven.
Over the years, he has shared the coaching panel with an array of prominent artists, among them Jessie J, Olly Murs, Kylie Minogue and Rita Ora.
Sir Tom Jones will be replaced by Cheryl and Aitch, according to reports
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PA
This is not the first time Sir Tom has been unceremoniously removed from the programme. In 2016, the BBC dropped him ahead of the show’s fifth series, a decision he criticised at the time as “sub-standard behaviour”, noting he had been given just 24 hours’ notice.
Beyond television, his career spans more than six decades and includes three UK number one singles, four chart-topping albums, a Grammy, two Brit Awards and an Ivor Novello Award. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.
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