Coaches tell of heartache after show’s return
‘It’s like starting again’ – Sir Tom back on his feet after op
WE’RE used to outrageous stories of rock stars caning it. But, in Sir Tom Jones’ case, the opposite was true on last night’s opening episode of The Voice UK’s new series.
The 77-year-old Voice of the Valleys had worried fans late last year when he announced he’d been forced to cancel an upcoming American tour “on medical advice”, with many fearing that the star had fallen seriously ill.
However, the Pontypridd belter later revealed that he’d instead undergone hip replacement surgery, the success of which he celebrated by posting a picture of himself on social media sporting a rather natty looking walking stick.
And, while many of the silver fox’s followers seemed to like the new addition – the majority of whom remarked on how it made him appear even more distinguished than the grey hair – it seems it was never destined to be a long-term feature.
Indeed, on last night’s episode of the hit ITV talent show there was no sign, or even mention of it, with the singing legend looking in fine form as he joined fellow coaches – will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson and newbie Ollie Murs – in a rendition of Feeling Good, the song first made famous by Nina Simone in 1965.
Sir Tom spoke about the procedure and subsequent recovery at the launch of The Voice last October, during which he hobbled down the red carpet with his cane.
“Years ago my sciatic nerve was giving me trouble in my hip and this felt MUSICIANS Olly Murs, Jennifer Hudson, Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am faced professional heartache as they watched the launch of The Voice UK last night.
The ITV contest’s coaches, who watch the initial pre-recorded auditions blind, learned the real stories behind the hopeful singers’ passion for music when the show hit our screens. After seeing a sneak preview of the fully edited first round just days beforehand, they admitted to regret over the ones that got away. like the same thing – it was a dull ache you couldn’t get rid of.
“Getting on and off the stage was giving me trouble – and you can’t limp into the spotlight, you have to try and make an entrance. So I knew I had to do something about it.”
Therefore, Sir Tom decided to go under the knife to rectify the problem, an operation which was then followed by weeks of physio at a London clinic.
“I was in the pool every day, on the bike, they’ve got all the gear there. I’m coping great, all I need to do is get up and stretch it a little bit.
“Walking the corridors (of the Voice studios) is like rehab, there’s a lot of them here. There’s a long walk from the dressing room to the stage, but it’s good. It’s a new hip, it’s bionic – it’s like starting again.”
Sir Tom, whose role as a mentor follows his 50-year-career in the music industry, said: “One person did not do anything wrong but there was something that did not take them over the top. We only get one shot at it and there is not time to review or think about it. When I saw it for a second time, I thought, ‘why the hell didn’t I hit the button?’”
Aside from the inevitable disappointment for some, the action-packed first episode, hosted by returning presenter Emma Willis, will open with a stunning rendition of Nina Simone’s Feeling Good performed by four coaches.
As they mark the show’s sixth year, veteran coach and producer will.i.am said he now has a more focused vision for a series winner. He said: “This year I am listening for singers that can sing the songs that I have on my hard drive. Before I was just looking for singers that sang good, but I have a bunch of songs I have written with (artists such as) John Legend and David Guetta just sitting there, and I am looking for people to kill all those hits. I am not looking towards the (long-term) future yet, but I am more resultorientated.”
Hudson, whose contestant Mo Adeniran won the show last year, said: “This year is tough, different, and I have a diverse team of stars mixed in with artists – and there is a difference between those things.”
Newcomer Murs added: “The person we are looking for, it has to be something unique and amazing, and I think we might have already found one of them.”