ITV has thanked the "irreplaceable Sir Tom Jones" as they announce a major overhaul of The Voice UK, with Cheryl, Stacey Solomon and Alesha Dixon joining the show line-up. Girls Aloud singer Cheryl will take a seat on the coaching panel alongside rapper Aitch, who is also making his series debut. The pair will replace departing mentors Sir Tom Jones, Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher, alongside returning coaches Kelly Rowland and Will.i.am.
The shake-up follows claims from Sir Tom that ITV "made the decision" to "fire" him from the show, where he has coached intermittently since its 2012 debut. Solomon and Dixon will present the next series, replacing Emma Willis, who is set to host the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. In a statement, ITV thanked the "irreplaceable Sir Tom Jones" for his years on The Voice UK and the "countless incredible and unforgettable moments he gave the show".
In a statement on Instagram shared on Tuesday, Sir Tom wrote: “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. New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial.
Plan auto-renews until cancelled. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. The Voice debuted on BBC One in 2012, with ITV acquiring the rights for the sixth series.
Sir Tom previously left before the fifth series in 2016 and criticised the BBC’s “sub-standard behaviour” for axing him from the show with just a 24-hour warning. Series 15 of The Voice UK will be broadcast in 2027. The current series continues on 12 September at 7pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
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