THE RED CHAIR IS STILL HIS — WHY IS TOM JONES LEAVING THE VOICE UK?

Sir Tom Jones says he never wanted to leave The Voice UK. Now, after 13 seasons on the coaching panel, his red chair is set to belong to someone else — and fans are asking whether the show is really ready to move on.

For more than a decade, Sir Tom Jones has been one of the defining faces of The Voice UK.

Since the programme launched in 2012, the Welsh music legend has sat in the famous red chair, turning it whenever a singer caught his attention and helping contestants navigate one of Britain’s biggest televised singing competitions.

Now, at 86, Jones is preparing to leave the full-time coaching panel.

But according to the singer himself, this was not a departure he chose.

And that has made his exit considerably more complicated than an ordinary change of cast.

“I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE”

The first major shock came in September when reports emerged that Jones would not return as a full-time coach for Series 15.

Initially, there was uncertainty over exactly what had happened.

ITV said it wanted to refresh the programme, while reports suggested discussions were still taking place about whether Jones could remain involved in some capacity.

Then Jones spoke publicly.

In a statement shared on social media, he made it clear that he had wanted to stay.

“To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice as I love the show and really appreciate the audience,” Jones said.

He claimed that ITV had made the decision some time earlier but had only recently informed him.

According to Jones, the reason given to him was a financial difficulty relating to insurance.

He also said ITV was presenting the change publicly as an effort to “refresh” the programme and create a new coaching line-up.

The singer said he had been offered a much smaller role in which he would make appearances without being involved from the beginning of the competition.

He said he was not happy with that arrangement.

ITV, meanwhile, has said that Jones will no longer be a full-time coach for Series 15, while leaving open the possibility of some involvement.

A 13-YEAR LEGACY

Jones’ relationship with The Voice UK stretches back to the show’s first series in 2012.

He was one of the original coaches alongside will.i.am, Jessie J and Danny O’Donoghue.

Although he briefly left the programme in 2016, Jones returned and subsequently became one of its longest-serving figures.

Across his time on the show, he has worked alongside a constantly changing group of famous musicians, including Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora, Olly Murs, Anne-Marie and Kelly Rowland.

He has also coached three winners of the competition: Leanne Mitchell in Series 1, Ruti Olajugbagbe in Series 7 and Anthonia Edwards in Series 11.

For many viewers, however, his importance to the programme has extended beyond statistics.

His age, experience and decades-long career gave him a different presence from the younger artists appearing around him.

He was not simply another celebrity sitting in a red chair.

He was Sir Tom Jones.

ITV’S BIG NEW ERA

ITV has now confirmed that The Voice UK Series 15 will look very different.

Cheryl and Aitch will join the coaching panel for the 2027 series, alongside returning coaches will.i.am and Kelly Rowland.

Jones will not be part of the full-time coaching line-up.

Neither will McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.

The presenting team is changing too.

Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon will take over hosting duties for Serie