“I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE” — SIR TOM JONES DROPPED FROM THE VOICE UK AFTER 13 YEARS AS ITV SHAKE-UP SPARKS FAN FURY

The music legend says he never wanted to walk away from the show — but ITV has decided to overhaul the coaching panel ahead of the next series.

Sir Tom Jones has been dropped from The Voice UK after 13 years in the famous red chair — and the legendary singer has made it clear that leaving was never his choice.

The 86-year-old Welsh music icon, who has been part of the show since its launch in 2012, revealed that ITV made the decision some time ago but only informed him recently.

His blunt response has now turned a routine television shake-up into a major controversy.

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

He also said the broadcaster had initially given him a financial and insurance-related explanation for the decision, while publicly describing the changes as an effort to “refresh” the programme.

TOM JONES DIDN’T CHOOSE TO WALK AWAY

For fans who had watched Tom occupy the red chair for more than a decade, the announcement came as a surprise.

Tom said ITV had already made its decision but that he was only told recently.

He was reportedly offered a reduced role that would have allowed him to make appearances without being involved in the coaching process from the beginning.

Tom made it clear that he was unhappy with that proposal.

His departure therefore isn’t simply a veteran star deciding that it is time to move on.

According to Tom himself, he wanted to stay.

And that detail has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the shake-up.

ITV WANTS A “REFRESH”

ITV has indicated that the next series will feature a significantly refreshed coaching line-up.

Tom’s exit comes as the programme prepares for its 15th series, with Cheryl returning to primetime television as a coach and rapper Aitch joining the panel.

will.i.am and Kelly Rowland are also returning.

Meanwhile, Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher are leaving the coaching panel.

The changes represent one of the biggest overhauls in the show’s recent history.

But replacing Tom Jones is proving particularly controversial because of how long he has been associated with the programme.

FANS ARE NOT TAKING IT QUIETLY

The backlash was immediate.

Fans flooded social media with messages expressing their disappointment, with many arguing that Tom had become inseparable from the identity of The Voice UK.

The reaction has gone beyond ordinary viewer complaints.

A petition calling for Tom to return to the show has gained thousands of signatures, while his longtime fellow coach will.i.am publicly backed the campaign.

The Black Eyed Peas star also appeared visibly upset by the situation as filming for the new series began.

Other public figures have also spoken out in support of Tom.

Among them was television personality Carol Vorderman, who described the decision as terrible and praised Tom as a legend.

A NEW ERA FOR THE VOICE

Despite the controversy, ITV is moving ahead with its new line-up.

The broadcaster has described Tom’s contribution to the programme as significant and has explored the possibility of involving him in some capacity outside the traditional full-time coaching role.

But Tom’s own comments suggest that a brief appearance is not what he wanted.

After 13 years sitting in the red chair, he wanted to continue doing what he had always done — coaching singers and being part of the show.

Instead, he is watching a new generation of coaches take their places.

“THERE’S NEVER A GOOD TIME…”

Tom ended his statement with a line that immediately captured the attention of fans.

He pointed out that there is never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who is “still pretty good at his job.”

The remark summed up the mood surrounding his departure: part disappointment, part defiance and unmistakably Tom Jones.

For more than a decade, audiences watched him turn his chair, mentor aspiring singers and bring his unmistakable personality to the programme.

Now, the red chair that became synonymous with Sir Tom Jones will belong to someone else.

The Voice UK is moving into a new era.

But judging by the reaction from viewers — and Tom Jones himself — the question may not be whether the show can continue without him.

It may be whether fans are ready to watch it do so.