Sir Tom Jones: I was treated better on a building site than at the BBC

The music legend was dropped from The Voice on the BBC back in 2015
Not impressed: Sir Tom Jones has slammed the BBC
BBC/Guy Levy
Jennifer Ruby3 January 2017
The Weekender

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Sir Tom Jones has said that he was treated better on a building site than he was at the BBC after he was sacked from The Voice with just one day’s notice.

The music legend, who has rejoined the singing show at its new home on ITV, has slammed the BBC for the way they handled his departure back in 2015.

“I was p***** off,” he told the Radio Times. “I never got to the bottom of who made the decision.

“It was between the production company Wall to Wall and the BBC, and I still don’t know why.

The Voice UK 2017 line-up

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“The first thing I thought was, ‘Why have they left it so late in the day?’ When we got the call, we said, ‘When did you make this decision?’ ‘Yesterday. And we’re going to give it to the press tomorrow.’ Oh, that’s nice.”

The singer added: “Well of course that’s a kick in the b*******. When I used to work in factories or on a building site, you’d get a week’s notice at least.

“They don’t call you up the day before and say, ‘Sorry, don’t come in tomorrow.’ You don’t make a decision like that overnight.”

Fans were up in arms after Sir Tom was dropped by the BBC ahead of last year’s series, with many calling for him to be reinstated.

At the time, Sir Tom wrote on Facebook: “I’ve supported the show and the BBC since the beginning. I was told yesterday, with no consultation or conversation of any kind, that I would not be returning.

“Having been through plenty of transformations throughout the years, I support and admire creative change.

“But being informed, as a matter of duty and respect, is an important part of creative relationships. This sub-standard behaviour from the executives is very disappointing.”

Sir Tom will be back in his red chair alongside Jennifer Hudson, Will.i.am and Gavin Rossdale when the new series launches on ITV this Saturday.

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