will.i.am “didn’t like” how Tom Jones’s exit from The Voice was handled
The crooner's exit from the show wasn’t handled well admits the Black Eyed Peas star as new arrival Paloma Faith insists Sir Tom has “other fish to fry”
The Voice coach will.i.am has admitted he “didn’t like” the way Sir Tom Jones’s exit from the talent show was handled.
“The way it was done, I didn’t like,” will.i.am told RadioTimes.com of Sir Tom Jones’s removal from the coaching line-up ahead of this year’s fifth series Boy George and Paloma Faith were drafted in alongside the Black Eyed Peas star and Ricky Wilson.
The Welsh legend took to social media to describe BBC executives’ behaviour as "sub-standard", revealing he was told the day before the new panel was announced that he wouldn’t be part of it. A spokesperson for the show said at the time that “no role was ever promised” and that it was the same process as other years.
“How things were handled we know wasn’t the best,” will.i.am admitted, but he insisted he wasn’t about to air any dirty laundry.
“This is a family, so for you to come into my house and say ‘Hey, show me where your dirty laundry is at…’ I can’t show people’s underwear.”
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New arrival Paloma Faith, who sits in the seat exited by now X Factor judge Rita Ora, said Sir Tom Jones has got other things to focus on.
“We all also agree that Tom Jones has got other fish to fry and has been frying for his whole career and still is going to be frying. So he’s going to be fine. I don’t think Tom needs The Voice to have a career. He’s an incredible human being. He knows that, everybody here does.”
As for the new-look coaching panel, will.i.am said there’s a noticeable difference.
“We’ve never had this much electricity on the show.”
The Voice returns Saturday 9th January on BBC1
