Tom Jones has the power to ban popstars from joining The Voice panel if he doesn’t like them – but Olly Murs doesn’t
SIR Tom Jones has the power to ban popstars from joining The Voice UK panel if he doesn't like them.
The 79-year-old star has been a mentor on the ITV show since its first season, and has admitted to having an influence over the rest of the line-up.
Meghan Trainor has replaced Jennifer Hudson as a coach for the upcoming series of the show, and Tom has now told us that he was involved in that decision-making process.
Speaking to The Sun Online, Tom said of Meghan's signing: "They just asked me.
"They said: 'We are thinking of Meghan Trainor', and then I checked that out.
"Because she was on a talent show in the states."
Clearly confused, Olly Murs interrupted: "Hang on a minute, when they said: 'We're going to have Olly Murs on the show', did they come to you first?"
Tom joked back: "I said: 'Who?'"
He continued: "But yeah really, ever since I have been on the show they have asked - but I won't tell you the ones that I said no to."
Tom and will.i.am are two of the original Voice UK judges, with Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue joining them for the first two series.
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Ricky Wilson, Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora, and Gavin Rossdale are among the other mentors that Tom would have had a say in hiring over the years.
Paloma Faith and Boy George also acted as coaches in season five of the show, but producers sparked controversy that year after it was revealed that they had snubbed Tom from the line-up.
Olly joined the series in 2017 after finding success as a solo artist when he finished second on The X Factor in 2009.
The Voice UK returns on Saturday 4th January 2020 on ITV