Sir Tom Jones, 86, has revealed he will not return to his coaching role on "The Voice UK" as the ITV series undergoes a significant revamp. Jones stated he was offered a "much-reduced role" and was "not thrilled about" the change, attributing the decision to "financial difficulty with insurance" and a desire by the network to "refresh" the show.
"They now say in the press they wanted to 'refresh' the show, and with a new coaching line-up there wouldn't be a chair for me," Jones said in a statement. He added, "The only thing I know right now is that there's never a good time to fire an 86-year-old who's still pretty good at his job."
Joining the show as new coaches are Cheryl, a former Girls Aloud singer and solo artist who previously judged "The X Factor," and Manchester-born rapper Aitch, known for hits such as "Taste (Make It Shake)." ITV announced the new panel, stating, "Fusing legendary industry experience with a vibrant competitive spirit, our latest panel of icons is ready to discover and celebrate the most remarkable and exciting vocal talent emerging from every corner of the country."
Alesha Dixon, who rose to fame with girl group Mis-Teeq and has served as a judge on "Strictly Come Dancing" and "Britain's Got Talent," will co-host the series alongside Stacey Solomon. Solomon, who was a runner-up on "The X Factor" in 2009, is also known for hosting "Sort Your Life Out."
Dixon and Solomon will replace Emma Willis, who has hosted "The Voice UK" since 2014 but is departing to present "Strictly Come Dancing."