Tom Jones and The Voice UK: Why has he been dropped and is he still on the show?
TOM JONES and The Voice UK have been almost inseparable since the television talent show first appeared on British screens in 2012. But the Welsh singing legend has revealed that the decision for him to leave the famous red chair was not his own.
The 86-year-old superstar says he has been dropped as a full-time coach for the next series of The Voice UK, prompting considerable reaction from viewers in Britain and further afield.
But why is Sir Tom leaving, did he want to go – and will viewers still see him on The Voice?
***
LATEST: Support for Sir Tom Jones has continued to grow following news that he will not return as a full-time coach on The Voice UK. Fellow coach will.i.am has publicly backed a petition calling for Sir Tom to be reinstated, with more than 11,500 people having signed it by Friday. ITV has meanwhile confirmed that Cheryl and rapper Aitch will join returning coaches will.i.am and Kelly Rowland for the next series, while describing Sir Tom as “irreplaceable”. Filming for the revamped show has now begun in Manchester, but the controversy surrounding the Welsh star’s departure shows little sign of disappearing.
***
WHY HAS TOM JONES BEEN DROPPED FROM THE VOICE UK?
Sir Tom says the decision was made by ITV and that he was only informed recently.
In a statement, the Pontypridd-born singer made clear that he did not want to leave the programme and said the reason he was given involved a financial difficulty relating to insurance.
Reports about changes to the programme have also referred to a desire to refresh the coaching line-up for the next series.
***
DID TOM JONES WANT TO LEAVE THE VOICE?
No.
Sir Tom has been particularly clear about this, saying that he loves the show and appreciates its audience.
He has been one of the programme’s most recognisable personalities since its launch, appearing as a coach for 13 seasons and becoming almost as closely associated with the programme as its famous revolving chairs.
***
IS TOM JONES STILL ON THE VOICE UK?
This is where viewers could understandably become confused.
Yes, Sir Tom can still be seen as a coach in the current series of The Voice UK, alongside will.i.am, Kelly Rowland and McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.
His departure concerns the programme’s next series rather than the episodes presently being broadcast.
***
HAS TOM JONES BEEN OFFERED ANOTHER ROLE?
Possibly – but not the role he wanted.
Sir Tom says he was offered a much-reduced involvement in which he could make an appearance without being involved in the programme from the beginning.
ITV has said that while he will no longer be a full-time coach in the next series, discussions are continuing with Sir Tom and his team about possible involvement.
Whether that will ultimately lead to another appearance remains to be seen.
***
WHY HAS THE STORY ATTRACTED SO MUCH ATTENTION?
Few performers have enjoyed careers comparable to that of Sir Tom Jones.
Born in Pontypridd, South Wales, in 1940, he became an international star during the 1960s and has maintained a remarkable career spanning more than six decades.
Songs including It’s Not Unusual, Delilah, What’s New Pussycat? and Green, Green Grass of Home helped make him one of Wales’ most famous exports.
His longevity on The Voice has also introduced him to generations of television viewers who may have been born decades after his first chart successes.
It is perhaps unsurprising, therefore, that news of his departure has travelled well beyond Britain, attracting coverage in the United States, Australia and elsewhere.
For many viewers, Sir Tom hasn’t simply been one of the coaches on The Voice UK.
He has become part of the furniture.
And judging by his own reaction, he wasn’t quite ready to give up his chair.