Sir Tom Jones may have been told that his time as a full-time coach on The Voice UK is coming to an end, but thousands of viewers are making it clear that they are not ready to see the legendary singer leave.

A peтιтion calling for the 86-year-old Welsh music icon to be reinstated has attracted tens of thousands of signatures, with more than 61,000 verified signatures recorded on Change.org as of September 22. Other reports have cited an even higher overall figure.

For many longtime viewers, Tom has become far more than just another coach sitting in one of the show’s famous red chairs.

🎤 FANS SAY THE VOICE UK WON’T FEEL THE SAME

The campaign began shortly after reports emerged that Sir Tom would not return as a full-time coach for the programme’s next series.

Fans quickly took to social media to express their disappointment, while a Change.org peтιтion was launched urging ITV to reconsider the decision.

The peтιтion describes Tom as an important part of the programme and argues that his decades of experience in music have made him a valuable mentor to aspiring singers.

The reaction has continued to grow, with supporters describing the singer as one of the defining personalities of The Voice UK.

For some viewers, his presence in the red chair has been part of the show’s idenтιтy since the beginning.

💔 TOM JONES MAKES HIS FEELINGS CLEAR

Sir Tom himself has previously said that he did not want to leave the programme.

In a statement shared on social media, he explained that he loved The Voice and appreciated its audience, while saying the decision regarding his future had been made by ITV.

He also said he had been offered a much-reduced role rather than continuing as a full-time coach, something he was not enthusiastic about.

That revelation added another emotional layer to the fan campaign.

Rather than simply reacting to a television casting change, supporters began asking ITV to reconsider whether there might still be a place for Tom in the programme.

❤️ HIS RESPONSE TO THE FAN SUPPORT

As the peтιтion continued to gain momentum, Sir Tom acknowledged the overwhelming support.

After appearing on the show, he shared a clip of himself performing and thanked fans for the messages, comments and peтιтions that had been sent his way.

His message made clear that he had noticed the enormous amount of support coming from viewers.

The response from fans was immediate, with supporters continuing to describe him as an irreplaceable part of The Voice UK.

📺 ITV IS ALREADY PLANNING A NEW ERA

The controversy comes as ITV prepares a major change to The Voice UK.

The programme is moving toward a new coaching lineup for its upcoming 2027 series, with Cheryl and Aitch joining returning coaches Kelly Rowland and will.i.am.

The changes have prompted plenty of discussion among viewers, particularly because Tom has been ᴀssociated with the programme for so many years.

At the same time, ITV has indicated that discussions about Tom’s possible involvement have taken place, leaving open the possibility that his connection with the programme may not disappear completely.

However, his future as a full-time coach is a separate matter, and the new lineup represents a significant change for the show.

🎤 A FAN CAMPAIGN THAT REFUSES TO GO QUIET

Whether the peтιтion will actually influence ITV’s plans remains unknown.

A peтιтion alone does not guarantee that a broadcaster will reverse a casting decision, and ITV has already been preparing for a new era of the programme.

But the scale of the response demonstrates just how strongly a section of the audience feels about Tom’s departure.

For fans who have followed The Voice UK for years, his familiar presence, experience and personality have become closely connected with the programme.

And while the red chairs may soon look different, one thing is already obvious:

Thousands of viewers are not ready to say goodbye to Sir Tom Jones just yet. ❤️🎤

Source: Change.org — Reinstate Sir Tom Jones on The Voice UK | The Independent — Tom Jones says he did not want to leave The Voice UK | Brit Brief — Peтιтion pᴀsses 59,000 signatures