Tom Jones Thanks Fans Amid "The Voice" Controversy and Ratings Dip

Sir Tom Jones has publicly thanked his fans for their "heartfelt messages" and support as filming for the new season of "The Voice UK" commences without him. The departure of the 86-year-old singer from his coaching role has sparked controversy, with a petition to reinstate him on the ITV show surpassing 57,000 signatures.

Jones addressed the situation on Instagram, sharing a clip of himself performing his hit "It's Not Unusual" alongside fellow coaches will.i.am, Kelly Rowland, Tom Fletcher, and Danny Jones. He captioned the post, "So many heartfelt messages, comments and even petitions of support. It doesn’t go unnoticed and it’s been really lovely to receive these! Thank you!"

Change.org confirmed that the petition to bring Sir Tom back to "The Voice" had garnered over 57,000 signatures, accompanied by numerous messages of support. The singer's post received a wave of supportive comments from fans and fellow celebrities, including a 'like' from Spice Girl Mel C.

Meanwhile, the latest episode of "The Voice UK" saw a significant drop in viewership, with approximately 1.6 million tuning in, marking a decrease of half a million viewers from the previous week. The episode had been moved to an earlier timeslot to avoid competing with the launch of the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing."

Sir Tom has stated that his departure was not his decision, attributing it to ITV's "financial difficulty with insurance." He revealed that he was informed of the decision recently, despite it having been made "obviously a while ago." He also mentioned an offer for a "much-reduced role" involving appearances without full involvement, an offer he was "not thrilled about."

ITV released a statement thanking Jones for his contributions over nine years, acknowledging his role in bringing "joy to audiences, and to every singer who performed for him and with him." The broadcaster indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding potential future involvement.

Fellow coach will.i.am is reportedly unhappy with how the situation was handled, with sources suggesting he has expressed his displeasure backstage. The introduction of new coaches Cheryl and Aitch has been met with an atmosphere described as "awkward" on set due to the controversy surrounding Sir Tom's exit. A source told The Sun that the situation is "uncomfortable" for new coaches, particularly Cheryl, whose TV comeback is now overshadowed by the dispute. ITV has been contacted for comment.

Filming for the 2027 season of "The Voice UK" is currently underway, featuring Cheryl and Aitch in the coaching panel alongside returning coaches will.i.am and Kelly Rowland. This marks the first season without Sir Tom Jones since the show's inception.