Fourteen years after first taking a seat in its rotating red chairs, Sir Tom Jones says ITV has ended his full-time coaching role on The Voice UK. The veteran coach has been an on-and-off fixture on the singing competition since its launch, offering decades of industry experience to aspiring artists. Jones said the network cited plans to refresh the coaching lineup for future series, leaving no space for the Welsh singer in a full-time capacity. He remains a coach in the currently airing series and said ITV had offered him a much-reduced future role. The decision marks a major change for one of the show’s original and most popular coaches.
Reacting to the news on social media, Jones made it clear the decision was not mutual. He posted on Facebook, “To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice as I love the show and really appreciate the audience. ITV made this decision — obviously a while ago, and I was told just recently. The reason given is because of a financial difficulty with insurance. 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 being actually involved from the start, and I’m not thrilled about that. 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.” He said ITV cited “a financial difficulty with insurance” and offered him a much-reduced role instead, which he was not thrilled about. He noted that he loved the show and appreciated the audience, adding that there is never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who is still pretty good at his job. The timing is particularly surprising given his recent viral performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Tower of Song”, which highlighted his enduring appeal.
The studio atmosphere shifted noticeably as Jones delivered his rendition of the 1988 track. Originally written by Cohen as a reflection on ageing and the enduring nature of music, the lyrics took on extra weight when sung by the 86-year-old artist. Backed by a sparse arrangement, his delivery remained powerful and clear. Fellow coaches sat in quiet attention, visibly moved by the depth of his vocal performance. It was a raw moment that reminded the studio audience exactly why he has sustained a career across seven decades. See celebrity reactions in the comments on his official Instagram post below:
Much of the emotional weight came from the visible bond between Jones and his fellow panellists, particularly will.i.am. Over the years, viewers have often noted the deep respect the producer shows whenever the Welsh singer takes the microphone. Watching will.i.am wipe away tears during the song reinforced the quiet authority Jones holds in the studio. Fans regularly praise this changing connection, noting how rare it is to see such genuine admiration between artists from entirely different musical eras. Relive another deeply moving moment as the Welsh icon captivated the studio audience.
Online reactions to his performance treated the song as a moving reflection of his long career. Fans poured into the comments to share their appreciation for his vocal longevity. One viewer noted, “This moved me to my core. You can feel every loss, every love, every heartbreak lived in this man’s voice. This is something A.I could NEVER replicate. Soul.” Another fan simply added, “How many singers can make grown men cry. His voice gets right into the soul. Thank you Tom you are unique.”
ITV now faces the challenge of moving forward without one of its most defining figures in a full-time coaching role. While the network aims to introduce new energy to the panel, replacing a coach with such extensive musical history will be difficult. Many longtime viewers value his spontaneous performances and industry anecdotes. As the show prepares to transition into a new era, fans can reflect on an on-and-off tenure spanning 14 years that brought genuine musical heritage to weekend television, with a key full-time chapter set to close after the current series.