A WINNING FAREWELL HE NEVER WANTED: SIR TOM JONES ENDS HIS VOICE UK JOURNEY WITH ONE LAST VICTORY

The legendary singer watched his team member Cate McHugh become champion in what appears to be his final season as a full-time coach — but the celebration came with an emotional goodbye he never wanted.

Sir Tom Jones had one final reason to celebrate on The Voice UK. His contestant, Welsh singer Cate McHugh, was crowned the winner of the 2026 competition on Saturday, October 31.

But beneath the excitement of the victory was a much more emotional moment: the end of an era for one of the show’s most recognizable coaches.

For Jones, 86, seeing Cate lift the trophy was a remarkable way to close his latest chapter on the ITV singing competition. Yet his departure was not something he had chosen.

Back in September, the music legend made his feelings clear in a statement shared on social media.

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

His words gave fans a glimpse into just how difficult the decision had been for him.

A FINAL WIN FOR TEAM TOM

Cate McHugh defeated fellow finalists Monique Nicholson-Porter, Naná Aldrin-Quaye and Frank Raven to take the 2026 title.

The Welsh singer, who had been mentored by Jones throughout the competition, appeared overwhelmed after her victory.

“Thank you, I did it,” she said on stage.

Her achievement was especially meaningful given her personal journey. Cate has a degenerative sight condition that has left her registered blind, but she continued to pursue her passion for singing and made it all the way to the top of the competition.

Her victory also gave Jones another champion to celebrate during a season marked by uncertainty about his future on the show.

WHY TOM JONES IS LEAVING THE SHOW

Jones first appeared as a coach when The Voice UK premiered in 2012. Although he missed one season, he became one of the programme’s most familiar and enduring faces.

In his September statement, he said ITV had made the decision to end his position as a full-time coach and informed him only recently.

According to Jones, the explanation initially given to him involved financial difficulties related to insurance.

He also questioned the broadcaster’s later public explanation that the programme was being refreshed with a new coaching line-up.

Jones said he had been offered a significantly reduced role that would involve occasional appearances without being part of the competition from the beginning.

He admitted he was not happy with that arrangement.

The singer ended his statement with a pointed remark about his age and continued ability to do the job, saying there was never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who was still pretty good at it.

ITV, meanwhile, praised its long working relationship with the star. A spokesperson said the programme had loved working with him over the past nine years and confirmed that he would no longer be a full-time coach for the next series, while discussions about possible future involvement remained open.

AN ENDING THAT LEFT FANS EMOTIONAL

Following Cate’s victory, viewers took to social media to congratulate the singer and express their sadness over Jones’ departure.

Many praised the result as a fitting final achievement for the veteran coach, while others questioned why the programme would move on from such a familiar part of its history.

For audiences who had watched him mentor young performers for more than a decade, the finale carried a meaning beyond the competition itself.

Jones had arrived at the end of the season with another winner on his team. But the celebration also marked the closing of a chapter that he had hoped would continue.

Cate McHugh may have taken home the trophy, but her victory became part of a much bigger moment in the show’s history.

And for Sir Tom Jones, the final result was bittersweet: one last triumph, followed by a goodbye he never wanted to say.