BREAKING NEWS: Sir Tom Jones petition signed by thousands sees response from ‘broken’ will.i.am
Thousands more fans have signed a petition to see Sir Tom Jones reinstated as a coach on The Voice UK
More fans of Sir Tom Jones have signed a petition to see him reinstated as a coach on The Voice UK, and it has also seen a response from his colleague and friend, will.i.am.
Following rumours that he might not be back for the 2027 series, which is currently being filmed in Manchester, Sir Tom said he was “not thrilled” about what ITV offered him instead of being a coach, and claimed they had “made the decision” to “fire” him.
The Welsh singer, 86, has served as an on-off coach on the popular singing competition since its 2012 debut, however, while he is involved in the series currently airing, the ITV singing competition will see a shake-up to its line-up for 2027.
Girls Aloud star Cheryl has joined the coaching panel for the next series alongside Manchester rapper and fellow newcomer Aitch. They will replace Sir Tom, as well as Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher, and will join returning coaches Kelly Rowland and will.i.am.
But following the changes, Sir Tom’s fans have joined together and have set up a Change.org petition to see him back on the show for the next series, with the creator arguing that his “presence has been integral to the chemistry and success of the programme” and that to no longer have him in the coaching line-up “has not only disappointed millions of his fans but has also deprived aspiring singers of the chance to be guided by someone of his stature and expertise.”
They add that: “Bringing back Sir Tom to The Voice UK will not just honour his contributions but will also resonate with the fans’ desire for an authentic and enriching viewing experience. The mentoring and nurturing environment Sir Tom provides is unparalleled and essential to maintaining the core values of the show.”
At the time of writing, the petition had passed more than 51,000 signatures and will.i.am, who has coached alongside Sir Tom since the show launched in 2012, has been seen replying directly to a Change.org Instagram post of the petition with a run of crying emojis, writing: “I’m soo broken by this… I LOVE TOM SOOO MUCH!!!”
After Sir Tom hit back at ITV, a show spokesperson said: “We have loved working with Sir Tom Jones over the past nine years on The Voice UK. 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.”
