Tom Jones Says “The Voice UK” Dropped Him as a Coach

Tom Jones says his departure from the full-time coaching panel of The Voice UK was not his choice. The 86-year-old singer said ITV made the decision and recently informed him, ending another long stretch in the red chair he has occupied on and off since the show launched in 2012.

Jones disputes the idea of a routine refresh

In a social media statement reported by the BBC and Variety, Jones said he was given “financial difficulty with insurance” as the reason. He also pushed back on public descriptions of the change as a refresh of the coaching lineup, stressing that he still wanted to take part and valued the program’s audience.

Jones said he was offered a sharply reduced appearance instead of involvement from the beginning of the season. He made clear that the proposal did not excite him, while leaving the precise shape of any future appearance unresolved.

The program confirmed that Jones will not return as a full-time coach for series 15. A spokesperson said the production has loved working with him and remains in discussions with Jones and his team about possible involvement in the next series. That response confirms the change in status while stopping short of closing the door completely.

A defining presence on the show

Jones has been one of the competition’s most recognizable coaches, appearing across 13 seasons. His tenure included mentoring three winners: Leanne Mitchell in the first series, Ruti Olajugbagbe in series seven and Anthonia Edwards in series 11.

In the most recent season, he shared the panel with Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, will.i.am and Kelly Rowland. Production on the 2027 series was expected to begin soon, making the lineup decision an immediate practical change rather than a distant programming plan.

The disagreement now centers less on whether Jones is leaving the full-time panel—the show has confirmed that point—than on how the decision was made and whether a smaller role can be negotiated. Until those talks produce a clear outcome, his future connection to The Voice UK remains open but substantially reduced.