Tom Jones Says ITV Fired Him From ‘The Voice UK’ Over Insurance Costs

Tom Jones says his run on The Voice UK is ending against his will. The 86-year-old singer, who has coached on the British competition show since it launched in 2012, wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, September 8, that ITV told him he would no longer be a full-time coach for the upcoming 15th season. "To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice as I love the show and really appreciate the audience," Jones wrote, according to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter.

Jones said the network cited "a financial difficulty with insurance" as the reason for his removal. He added that ITV later described the change publicly as an effort to refresh the coaching lineup, and that the show offered him a smaller position in which he would appear without being involved from the start of the competition. "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," Jones wrote, according to Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter.

Jones closed his statement with a pointed line. "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 wrote, as reported by NME, Rolling Stone, and E! News. "We have loved working with Sir Tom Jones over the past nine years on The Voice UK," a spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.

"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." Jones has been a fixture of the show since its 2012 debut on the BBC, aside from sitting out one season. Jones returned when the show moved to ITV in 2016 and has remained on the panel since.

He is currently appearing on the show's 14th season alongside will.i.am, Kelly Rowland, and McFly's Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, and has coached three winners during his tenure, according to Billboard. Jones's post drew immediate support from former Voice coaches. Olly Murs commented, "Love ya TJ. I know how much that show means to you mate. Absolute legend and one of the very best to ever sit in that chair," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Will.i.am, who has appeared on every season of The Voice UK, responded with nearly 100 crying emoji, Rolling Stone reported. English singer Anne-Marie also commented, and presenter Carol Vorderman called the decision "terrible" and wrote, "You ARE The Voice," per The Hollywood Reporter. For now, Jones's exact role in the next season remains unclear as he and ITV continue discussions, according to Billboard.