“It’s Nice to Work with Others”: Sir Tom Jones Reflects on The Voice UK’s New Coaching Line-Up

Sir Tom Jones has shared his thoughts on the significant changes to The Voice UK’s coaching panel following the unexpected departure of Olly Murs and Anne-Marie last year. The legendary Welsh singer, whose career spans over six decades with iconic hits like It’s Not Unusual, She’s A Lady, and Sexbomb, has been a mainstay on the ITV reality singing show for most of its run since it first aired in 2012.

The shake-up in the coaching lineup came as a surprise to both viewers and the coaches themselves. Olly Murs, who had been with the show since its seventh season in 2014, and Anne-Marie, who joined in 2021, were both “in shock” and “gutted” by their removal. Murs, in particular, expressed his disappointment at the time, revealing how blindsided he felt by the decision.

Now, as The Voice UK gears up for its new season, Sir Tom has addressed the fresh faces joining him on the panel, including LeeAnn Rimes and McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones. Speaking to Metro.co.uk and other media outlets at the launch of the new season, Sir Tom said, “Well, it’s interesting. Again, that’s an exciting part. If it was the same coaches all the time, it would get boring for the viewers, I think. So, it’s nice to work with others.”

The 84-year-old music icon continued, “So far so good. Everybody who has come on has fit in, and they haven’t taken away. Personalities always come through, which is needed.”

Sir Tom is no stranger to the ups and downs of being a coach on The Voice. In 2015, when the show was still on the BBC before moving to ITV in 2017, he was unceremoniously dropped from the lineup, a decision he famously labeled as “sub-standard behavior.” He was informed his contract wouldn’t be renewed just 24 hours before the official announcement, a move that left him feeling blindsided. Reflecting on that time during the season 13 launch, Sir Tom joked about being “elbowed out” of the show, only to return a year later.

Despite these past experiences, Sir Tom has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving The Voice of his own accord. “Well, as long as they want me, I will stay,” he stated. “I mean, I love doing it because I like helping singers. I would do it anyway. When young singers come up to me and ask a question, I will give them an answer. If I have time, I will talk to them and share what I think they should do in order to go forward.”

For Sir Tom, offering advice to up-and-coming artists is a “natural thing” and something he genuinely enjoys. He also acknowledged that being on The Voice has helped him connect with younger audiences who might not have been familiar with his music. “Some of those kids wouldn’t normally see me until their parents brought them to a show, but when they see me on The Voice, they might come and see my show,” he explained. “It’s a winning situation—I can tell other singers how I feel about them and help them and also get across to a lot of people I normally wouldn’t.”

As The Voice UK enters its new season with a revamped coaching panel, Sir Tom Jones remains a beloved and enduring figure on the show, committed to mentoring the next generation of singing talent.