Sir Tom Jones has insisted he ‘didn’t want to leave The Voice’ and lashed out at ITV in an angry statement.
Insiders revealed on Monday that the show was going through a massive shake-up and Tom would be stepping down from his role as a judge after 13 years.
The music legend, 86, has now insisted it was not his decision to leave and has said ITV ‘fired’ him ‘due to financial issues with insurance.’
“To be clear, I didn’t want to leave The Voice because I love the show and really appreciate the audience. ITV made this decision, obviously some time ago, and I was told that recently.” Sir Tom wrote in a post shared to his Instagram and Facebook pages.
‘The reason given is because of financial problems with the insurance.’
“They’re now saying in the press that they wanted to ‘freshen up’ the show, and with a new coaching line-up there wouldn’t be a seat for me.”
Sir Tom Jones has insisted he ‘didn’t want to leave The Voice’ after only being told about ITV’s decision ‘recently’
‘To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice… ITV made this decision and I was told so recently.’ Sir Tom wrote in a post shared to his Instagram and Facebook pages
He added that ITV had offered him ‘a much more limited role in which I would appear, but without actually being involved from the start, and I’m not happy with that.’
“So all I know now is that there is never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who is still pretty good at his job.”
Representatives of The Voice have been contacted by Daily Mail for comment.
Insiders revealed on Monday that the show was keen to revamp its coaching panel, which sees Tom sit alongside Kelly Rowland and will.i.am and McFly duo Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones in the currently airing series.
But ITV pushed back against suggestions that Tom’s departure was a done deal on Monday, with a show insider telling the Daily Mail:
“ITV is absolutely delighted to be working with Sir Tom. They are in discussions with him and hope he returns to the series.’
Producers are reportedly in last-minute talks to bring Cheryl and Aitch on board for a 2027 series, which is expected to start filming on Friday.
It is also said that the show is keen to retain Kelly, who made her debut on the show this year, and will.i.am, who has been on the show alongside Tom since the debut series. If the four red chairs were occupied, there would be no room for Tom.
Sir Tom was also unceremoniously dropped from The Voice in 2015 when it aired on the BBC.
Insiders revealed on Monday that the show was keen to revamp its coaching panel, which sees Tom sit alongside Kelly Rowland and will.i.am and McFly duo Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones in the currently airing series.
After being cast as a judge in 2012, the singer was fired by the BBC three years later and replaced by Boy George.
The singer criticized the show’s executives at the time, claiming there was “no consultation or conversation of any kind.”
Following his latest firing, Tom took to Facebook to blast the show, stating that “this substandard behavior from the executives is very disappointing.”
Speaking to the Radio Times, the Sex Bomb singer revealed he was left incredibly angry by the BBC’s sudden decision. ‘I was devastated. “I never got to the bottom of who made the decision,” he saidbefore commenting, “Well, sure, that’s a kick in the ass.”
However, the Welsh singer added that he experienced some satisfaction when viewing figures for the show plummeted in subsequent series.
When the show moved to ITV in 2017, SIr Tom was bought back as a judge. In total, the singing competition has had eleven celebrity coaches in its 14 years of existence.
Fans were devastated by Tom’s latest firing and responded en masse to his Instagram post.
‘You’re the reason people watch this programme, Sir Tom. You are the Voice. Always has been, always will be. I won’t watch if you’re not there. Judging from other comments on social media, so many others are thinking the same thing. It’s a stupid decision they’ll regret!’ one person said.
Carol Vorderman was among those to comment, writing that it was a “terrible decision, imho…I saw you perform at Car Fest and you remain simply incredible and A LEGEND You ARE The Voice.”
Singer Karl Loxley, who appeared on The Voice as part of Tom’s team in the 2015 series, said: ‘The best thing about The Voice was getting the chance to work with you. An absolute legend and a true gentleman. ❤️ The Voice won’t be the same without you.’
If former X Factor judge Cheryl, 43, signs up for the ITV show, she would join her old friend will.i.am, 51, as a coach.
Rapper Aitch, 26, meanwhile, has been the frontrunner to replace McFly duo Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher, who have already announced they are leaving the show.
There are also reports that Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon will replace outgoing presenter Emma Willis, the new main presenter of rival BBC show Strictly.
Girls Aloud star and former
However, she is now said to have been in talks with show bosses ‘for months’, with filming for the new series due to start in Manchester on September 11.
The ITV series, which attracts around two million viewers a week, calls Becky Hill one of its success stories.
