ITV has described Sir Tom Jones as “irreplaceable” while confirming that Cheryl will take his place as a coach on the next series of The Voice UK.
The announcement came days after the 86-year-old singer said he had been “fired” from the programme because of what he described as “a financial difficulty with insurance”. Jones said he had not wanted to leave the show and was only informed of ITV’s decision recently.
In a statement, ITV thanked the Welsh music legend for his contribution over nine years, saying he had created “countless incredible and unforgettable moments” and brought joy to both viewers and contestants.
“We would like to thank the irreplaceable Sir Tom Jones for all his years on The Voice UK,” the broadcaster said. “He has brought joy to audiences, and to every singer who performed for him and with him.”
Cheryl will join the coaching panel for the series due to air in 2027, with rapper Aitch replacing McFly musicians Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones. Will.i.am and Kelly Rowland are also expected to feature in the revamped line-up.
Filming for the new series began in Manchester on Friday. Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon are set to take over presenting duties from Emma Willis, who has moved to the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Tom Jones says he did not want to leave The Voice UK
Jones addressed his departure in a statement posted on social media earlier this week, insisting that the decision had been made by ITV rather than himself.
“To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice as I love the show and really appreciate the audience,” he wrote. “ITV made this decision — obviously a while ago, and I was told just recently.”
He said the explanation given to him was linked to insurance costs, adding that ITV had also told the press it wanted to refresh the programme with a new coaching line-up.
Jones claimed he had been offered a “much-reduced role” involving an appearance on the show, but without being involved from the beginning. He concluded: “There’s never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who’s still pretty good at his job.”
ITV previously said that Jones would no longer be a full-time coach on series 15, but that discussions were continuing with him and his representatives about a possible role in the programme.
The broadcaster said: “We have loved working with Sir Tom Jones over the past nine years on The Voice UK. While 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.”
It remains unclear whether Jones will appear in the live final of the current series. The programme was recorded in 2024 and has since been delayed twice, meaning its later stages will be shown almost two years after the auditions were filmed.
Awkwardness behind the scenes
Reports have suggested that the changes have created tension behind the scenes, despite the arrival of Cheryl and Aitch being presented as part of a fresh start for the programme.
A source claimed that will.i.am was angry about the way Jones’s departure had been handled and had made his views known during filming. The source also said the situation was uncomfortable for Cheryl, who is understood to be close to the Black Eyed Peas star.
“None of this is her fault,” the source told The Sun. “It’s been handled atrociously by the bosses.” ITV and will.i.am’s representatives were approached for comment.
Cheryl, who has not held a regular primetime television role since appearing on BBC talent show The Greatest Dancer in 2020, has reportedly been in talks with The Voice UK for several months. She previously served as a judge on The X Factor.
Jones has been associated with The Voice UK since its launch in 2012, apart from a brief absence when the programme was still broadcast by the BBC. He returned when the show moved to ITV in 2017 and became one of its most recognisable figures.
Fans reacted angrily to the news, with some saying they would no longer watch the programme without him. Carol Vorderman called the decision “terrible”, while former contestant Karl Loxley described Jones as “an absolute legend and a true gentleman”.
