The Voice

Cheryl looks poised to replace Sir Tom Jones on The Voice following his explosive statement on his axing and the latest bookies odds which seem to be in her favour

Cheryl looks poised to replace Sir Tom Jones on The Voice. The former Girls Aloud star, 42, has taken time out of the spotlight in recent years but, almost 20 years after she joined The X Factor, it’s thought that she could be about to become a TV talent show judge all over again.

It all comes just days after it emerged that music legend Tom, 86, who first appeared on The Voice in 2012, had been axed from his position and made it clear that he didn’t want to leave.

A source told The Sun: “They adore Tom but felt Cheryl Tweedy would be better suited taking his seat. Talks were ongoing with both of them but everyone knew Tom was the backup option in case Cheryl fell through.”

The insider went on to claim that the whole situation could’ve been dealt with better and alleged that Tom’s fans have been left “furious” by the whole thing.

It comes as bookmaker Coral has priced up the contenders to join the new coaching panel on The Voice UK, with former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! star Aitch long odds-on at 1-8 and Cheryl even shorter at 1-10 to take one of the hot seats.

With ITV reportedly planning a major shake-up to the hit singing show, Coral makes Olly Murs 6-1 to be signed up, Rita Ora can be backed at 8-1 and Jess Glynne is 10-1.

“The odds suggest Aitch and Cheryl look very likely to join the new-look coaching panel on the next series of The Voice. Both have been popular in our betting, and it would be a big surprise if they did not appear on the red seats next year,” said Coral’s John Hill.

In his post, Tom said he was ‘not thrilled’ by what ITV have offered him. He wrote: “To be clear, I did not want to leave The Voice as I love the show and really appreciate the audience. “ITV made this decision – obviously a while ago, and I was just told recently.

“The reason given is because of a financial difficulty with insurance. They now say in the press they want to ‘refresh’ the show, and a new coaching line-up there wouldn’t be a chair for me.

“They are offering a much-reduced role where I would make an appearance but without being actually involved from the start, and I’m not thrilled about that. So 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.”

A spokesperson for The Voice told the Mirror: “We have loved working with Sir Tom Jones over the past nine years on The Voice UK. While he will no longer be a full-time coach on series 15, we continue to talk to Sir Tom and his team about his involvement in the next series.”

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A contestant on The Voice UK shared the inspirational support he’d received behind the scenes.

A coach on The Voice UK was left in tears moments before Saturday’s episode came to an end.

The ITV competition has returned, with Kelly Rowland joining will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and duo Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones. During the third round of the blind auditions on Saturday (September 5), viewers saw a show-first, as a Scottish singer made history, becoming the first contestant to be given the Rewind. ITV had earlier teased the game-changing format, saying: “If a coach realises they have made a mistake, they can hit Rewind, bring the act back, and offer them a place on their team.

“However, with only one Rewind available to each coach, they must choose their moment wisely. For an act who thought their journey was over, it could change everything…”

Elsewhere during the show, an emotional final audition left Kelly wiping back tears. 24-year-old Aaren was the last performer that day, hoping to impress the coaches.

Before taking to the stage, the ambulance care assistant, from Warrington, opened up about the support he’d received behind-the-scenes. He shared: “I live with my nan, she means the absolute world to me, she’s like a second mum.”

He went on to reveal that his nan had been diagnosed with breast cancer, adding: “There was a level of uncertainty there, whether we would have to say goodbye, when that would be, so I moved over to look after her.”

Aaren’s nan went on to praise him as “such a lovely person, inside and out”. “This is all you’ve wanted to do,” she added, talking about his audition.

Aaren shared: “This is one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve done, and probably ever will do. But the amount of times my nan will say, I wish I’d have done this when I was younger. I don’t ever want to get older and have any regrets, I want to be able to say that I’ve tried.”

After his performance, both Kelly and Sir Tom turned around, hoping to win Aaren onto their team. Kelly shared: “I turned around because I love a male soulful voice, that wants to croon. Like nobody sings from their gut, heart and soul anymore… it’s a talent.”

As she heard about Aaren’s nan, she broke down in tears. She said: “That was sweet, to watch him love his grandmother like that, I love that.” She added: “You always want them to have this really sweet space for a woman who is a rock in their life.”

After the auditions came to an end, Kelly added: “Aaren had me moved to tears, he just makes me kind of putty. He’s so honest, he was a really special guy so I’m really excited.”

The Voice UK is available to watch on ITVX

Emma Willis, host of The Voice UK, underwent keyhole heart surgery last year after discovering she had unknowingly lived with a congenital hole in her heart

The Voice UK presenter Emma Willis previously opened up about a health condition she had no idea about for over four decades.

The 50-year-old will be back on screens tonight (Saturday, August 22) to present the latest series of the ITV singing competition, with Destiny’s Child superstar Kelly Rowland joining as a coach alongside Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am and duo Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher.

Emma revealed she underwent successful keyhole heart surgery in early 2025 after discovering she had unknowingly lived with a congenital hole in her heart and an enlarged side for 48 years.

She has since recovered well with the support of her husband, Matt Willis. Routine health checks and an MRI revealed an enlarged heart, which led to further investigation by a cardiologist who found the congenital heart defect.

The mother-of-three underwent a successful keyhole procedure at the Royal Brompton Hospital. and while the physical healing was smooth, she noted that the psychological adjustment of recovering from internal heart changes took time.

Taking to Instagram to share snaps from hospital after she had keyhole heart surgery, Emma penned: :A big humungous THANK YOU to the team at the Royal Brompton Hospital for their care and support. A few weeks ago, I had keyhole heart surgery, which feels very strange to write, and even stranger when I say it out loud.

“From investigations last year, to diagnosis and then surgery, they were absolutely incredible. As was @mattjwillis who never left my side. Turns out, I’ve been pottering around for 48 years blissfully unaware I had a hole in my heart isn’t it bonkers what’s happening in our bodies that we have no idea about.

“What blows my mind even more is the wonders of modern medicine, and the spectacular people that save, fix and help us every single day. Can you imagine what it must feel like to have a pair of hands that can do that job?! They are the real superstar”

She continued:”A few of those people are Dr Alexander Lyon who investigated like a true super sleuth. Professor Wei Li, echocardiogram extraordinaire. Catrina, Carl and Tim who kept me at ease and humoured me when they were putting me to sleep.

“Marcus, Janet, Jayne, Hannah and Reem who monitored me at various points. Paulette, who was always up for a chat, gave great hugs, and loves a cinnamon slice as much as I do!

“There was a lovely woman with me in recovery but I was so out of it I can’t remember her name (so so sorry ) and my surgeon, Dr Ee Ling Heng… She was recommended as ‘a spectacular pair of hands’, but my god, she’s that and so much more.

“She has an ease and warmth that made me feel instantly comfortable all whilst being incredible professional and informative. I ask a million questions, and she answered them with the patience of a saint I knew as soon as we met that she was the woman I wanted poking around in my heart. Thank you Ee Ling, you’re one in a trillion.”

Emma, who will host Strictly Come Dancing when it returns to BBC One next month, has since partnered with the British Heart Foundation to raise awareness for cardiovascular conditions.

The Voice UK returns on Saturday, August 22 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX while Strictly Come Dancing kicks off next month on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

The McFly star returns to the spinning red chair tonight for The Voice UK, but what about his life away from the cameras?

The Voice UK judge Tom Fletcher has opened up about his heartbreaking condition.

The 41-year-old McFly singer-songwriter and author will be back in the hot seat as a coach on ITV’s The Voice UK this evening (Saturday, August 22). However, what fans might not know is that the musician suffers from a mental health condition.

He previously told Fearne Cotton how the condition had affected him since childhood. Tom explained: “Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been highly emotional. I’d feel excited one moment, then the polar opposite the next. But I think everyone just thought that’s who I was.”

It was only later that Tom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. According to the NHS : “Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where you have extreme mood changes. Medicines and talking therapy can help manage it.”

Some of the main symptoms include high moods and low moods, which last a few days or weeks at a time. However, the NHS goes on to state that there are times when a person’s mood is stable, and they don’t have any symptoms for weeks, months or even years.

However, it wasn’t just mood swings that affected him, and he stopped eating, choosing to “just” drink coffee, saying it was “so unhealthy”. Tom also kept much of his mental health struggles from his wife, actress and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher.

The musician reflected that he was sure he was “a nightmare to be with” during his down periods. “Like many men, quite often I would hide it from the people I was closest to,” Tom said.

He has also explained to Mother and Baby in 2025 how he also suffered from depression as part of their Where’s Your Head At? campaign. Tom admitted he only realised he had depression after watching a Stephen Fry documentary back in 2011 and it moved him to tears.

Tom said: “I was at a particularly low point when I saw it, and it was that that made me reach out and go and speak to someone. It was a really defining moment of my life.” He went on to say he was now in a “really good place” and said the programme was “so important” for him and added: “That really changed my life.”

Since then, Tom has been going from success to success after he recently won a highly coveted Olivier Award in April in the Best New Musical category for Paddington: The Musical. He wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, which will make its Broadway debut in spring 2027.

Before then, Tom will be trying to find the next big pop star on The Voice UK. Alongside Tom, Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Danny Jones will be returning to the show.

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However, there will be a new face joining them this time, with Destiny’s Child legend Kelly Rowland also becoming a coach. This year, there will also be a big change with the Rewind button, which will allow the coaches to bring someone back after regretting letting them go the first time.

The Voice UK starts on ITV tonight at 7pm

If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk . For help and support on eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 801 0677