Tom Jones says he has been fired from his coaching seat on The Voice UK after 13 seasons, claiming the network gave him an unusual explanation for the decision.
"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," Jones wrote on Instagram on September 8. "The reason given is because of a financial difficulty with insurance."
Jones Pushes Back on ITV's Explanation
The "It's Not Unusual" singer also took issue with reports that the network wanted to "refresh" the show with a new coaching lineup, leaving no chair for him.
"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 continued. "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."
Jones is a Grammy winner and one of Britain's best known singers, with a recording career stretching back to the 1960s.
ITV's Response
A representative for The Voice UK has not responded to a request for comment. However, a spokesperson for the show told People that it "loved working with Sir Tom Jones over the past nine years."
"Whilst he will no longer be a full-time coach on series 15," the spokesperson added, "we continue to talk to Sir Tom and his team about his involvement in the next series."
A 13-Season Run on the Coaching Panel
Jones has been a fixture on The Voice UK since it debuted in 2012, coaching alongside Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am. He is the second longest-serving coach on the series behind will.i.am.
His seat was briefly filled by Paloma Faith during the show's fifth season in 2016, after Jones alleged he had been replaced with "no consultation or conversation of any kind."
"Having been through plenty of transformations throughout the years, I support and admire creative change," he wrote on Facebook at the time. "But being informed, as a matter of duty and respect, is an important part of creative relationships. This sub-standard behaviour from the executives is very disappointing."
Jones returned to his coaching post the following season, when The Voice UK moved networks to ITV.
What's Next
ITV has not detailed what a reduced role for Jones might look like, and the network and Jones's team are said to still be discussing his involvement in the next series.
