Sir Tom Jones sparked significant outrage among ITV viewers this past weekend after he announced his decision to give twin brothers Billy and Louie a chance at victory, effectively sidelining other contestants Hollie Peabody and Ace.
This announcement, made during a live segment of the show, did not sit well with fans, prompting an immediate backlash.
The show’s official Instagram account posted a clip of the announcement, and the passionate viewers flooded the comments section with their discontent, highlighting the intensity of their feelings.
Many loyal fans voiced their opinions, labelling the decision the “biggest mistake” in the show’s history. Some even suggested that coach Jones might be time to step down after an extensive 12-year tenure, showing the strong bond they feel with the show and its contestants.
In response to the uproar, a new behind-the-scenes video was shared on the show’s social media platforms, where Jones addressed his fans directly.
Standing alongside the singing duo, he clarified his reasoning for selecting Billy and Louie for the final. “Billy and Louie, you know, they’re different,” he explained, emphasising their unique qualities and potential.
He defended the decision further, adding: “First of all, they’re a duo, of course, and I didn’t have a duo until now on this show.
“And they’re twins! And they sound fantastic together. So I had to pick them, and I had to put them through.”
Jones’ explanation will undoubtedly serve as little consolation to furious fans, the majority of whom expected Ace to secure a spot in Saturday’s grand finale.
Billy and Louie will compete for the top spot against Deb Orah, Ava, and Storry in Saturday’s finale as Jones, Will.i.am, LeAnn Rimes, Danny Jones, and Tom Fletcher critique their final performances.
Away from the show, Jones has addressed the possibility of hanging up the microphone for good in the past, especially after admitting he now has “less control” of his voice as he ages.
Speaking to Yours magazine, Sir Tom shared: “My voice is lower now. As we get older, our voices drop, and we get more character in them. The older you get, the less control you have over your vocal cords.”
He confidently asserted: “All you have got to do is push it harder … and I can still do that. I can still sing, and I can prove it, so here it is.”
The Sex Bomb singer reflected on the unexpected consequences of his sex symbol status, revealing how it has “backfired” at times. The charismatic performer recounted: “You have to use shtick, and then it caught on, and I was drowning in a sea of panties after a while. It backfired on me.”
He recalled an amusing incident from his Vegas days: “It was like the room keys. I was in Vegas, and someone threw a room key at me and I said, ‘Whose is this? ‘ and this woman said, ‘Use it and you will find out’.”
Despite his age, the It’s Not Unusual star has dismissed any notion of becoming a hologram for performances, as seen with ABBA’s recent ‘Abbatars’, insisting he’s “nowhere near” ready for that step and is keen to continue performing live for his fans.
