Sir Tom Jones says he was told by ITV that he had been "fired" from his coaching role on The Voice, putting the veteran singer's long-running, on-off involvement with the show at risk. The 86-year-old posted that he "loves the show" and did not want to leave, but that producers had decided the change "a while ago" and only informed him recently.
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In a social media statement Jones set out the reasons he said he was given, writing that the broadcaster cited "a financial difficulty with insurance." He added that the programme was being "refreshed" and that a new coaching line-up would leave no chair for him. ITV, Jones said, offered a smaller role in which he would make appearances without being involved from the start, a proposal he rejected.
Jones concluded his post with: "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." ITV has been asked for comment. The Press Association reported a show insider saying producers were "hopeful" he would return and that talks were ongoing.
The Voice first aired in 2012 and Jones has been an intermittent coach since the programme premiered. In the most recent series he coached alongside McFly members Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, US rapper Will.i.am and Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland. Across his tenure he has worked with a changing roster of coaches including Jessie J, Olly Murs, Kylie Minogue and Rita Ora.
Jones has also mentored three series winners, Leanne Mitchell in series one, Ruti Olajugbagbe in series seven and Anthonia Edwards in series 11. The programme's 2027 series was due to begin production soon, heightening the urgency of any agreement over the coaching line-up.
Outside the show Jones's career stretches over six decades. His hits include "Green Green Grass of Home" and "What's New Pussycat?", he has achieved three UK number one singles and four chart-topping albums, and he has won a Grammy, two Brit Awards and an Ivor Novello Award. He was knighted in 2006 for services to music.
With production imminent, negotiations between Jones and the show will determine whether he remains a central figure in The Voice's next cycle or is shifted to a smaller, cameo-style involvement.
