Sir Tom Jones has hit out at The Voice UK's producers after being dropped from the show, saying he did not want to leave and questioning the timing of a decision to sack an "86-year-old who's still pretty good at his job". The shake-up, which reportedly also sees McFly's Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher exit while Cheryl and Aitch are tipped to join the panel, has raised eyebrows because it comes just as filming for the next series is due to begin, even though the current pre-recorded season is still airing weekly on ITV.

The departure is the latest setback for a show that launched on the BBC in 2012 with average audiences of over seven million but has since slid to a record-low series 14 launch of just 1.9 million viewers. It has weathered controversies before, including 139 Ofcom complaints over host Holly Willoughby's outfit at the season two finale, and has cycled through 18 coaches across its run, with Jones himself twice leaving and returning amid a near-constant reshuffling of the judging panel.