The red chair may soon belong to someone else, but Sir Tom Jones’ presence on The Voice UK remains firmly in the hearts of many viewers.

The legendary Welsh singer has confirmed that he did not want to leave the ITV singing compeтιтion after years as one of its most recognizable coaches. Jones said ITV made the decision to remove him from the full-time coaching panel and told him that the programme was being refreshed with a new coaching line-up. He also said he had been offered a much smaller role, but was unhappy with the arrangement.

ITV has officially announced that Series 15, scheduled for 2027, will feature a new coaching line-up. Cheryl and Aitch will join returning coaches Kelly Rowland and will.i.am, while Alesha Dixon and Stacey Solomon will take over presenting duties. ITV thanked Jones for his years on the programme and described his contribution as bringing countless memorable moments to the show.

The announcement has prompted a strong reaction from fans. A peтιтion calling for Jones to return as a coach had collected more than 63,000 signatures by late September, while fellow coach will.i.am also backed the campaign.

The debate intensified as the current series continued to air. Some viewers have argued that Jones represents a distinctive combination of musical experience, warmth and familiarity that they fear could be difficult to replace. Those reactions remain opinions from viewers rather than evidence of a definitive audience verdict on the show’s future.

Recent audience figures have added another layer to the discussion. The Sun reported that the latest Saturday episode attracted fewer than 1.5 million viewers, describing it as the programme’s lowest-ever audience. However, that figure and its interpretation should be treated in the context of the show’s scheduling and wider television viewing patterns.

For Jones, the story is not necessarily a complete goodbye. ITV has said it remains in talks with him and his team about involvement in the next series, even though he will no longer serve as a full-time coach.

After more than a decade of appearances, his departure has become about more than a single red chair. For many viewers, it represents the end of a familiar era for The Voice UK — while the programme prepares to discover whether its new line-up can create a different kind of connection with audiences.

Source: ITV, The Independent, BBC Newsround, People