Tom Jones has been dropped from The Voice UK after 14 years as a full time coach.
According to The Sun, Jones will no longer keep his own chair or mentor his own team of contestants as part of a new shake-up. However, ITV is said to be exploring how it might keep him associated with the programme in another capacity, rather than removing him entirely.
A source told the tabloid: “ITV absolutely love Sir Tom and they’re working very hard behind the scenes to make this work.”
In response, the Welsh music legend, who has appeared on the programme since it was launched in 2012, issued a statement saying he didn’t want to leave the show. “I love the show and really appreciate the audience,” he wrote. “ITV made this decision – obviously a while ago, and I was just told recently.
He continued: “They now say in the press they wanted to ‘refresh’ the show, and with a new coaching line-up there wouldn’t be a chair for me. They are offering a much reduced role where I would make an appearance but without actually being involved from the start, and I’m not thrilled about that.
“So the only thing I know right now, is that it’s never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who’s still pretty good at his job.”