Tom Jones 'had a feeling' Rita would leave The Voice

Tom Jones has told Newsbeat he "had a feeling" Rita Ora would leave the coaching panel of The Voice.

The singer left the show after one series and was recently announced as one of the new judges on The X Factor.

Tom said he can understand why she left.

He explained: "I saw the look on her face when she didn't have anyone in the final. When you're a coach you take it to heart.

Rita Ora, Nick Grimshaw with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini are on this year's X Facotr panel with Simon Cowell

"We want to do the best we can for the people that we're coaching," he added.

"When I saw the look on her face I thought 'I hope this doesn't affect her [so much] that she won't want to be here next season.

"I would have felt the same way if it happened to me. It's bit soul-destroying. I talked to her at length after to try and console her because she was very upset.

"I thought 'I don't know if she'll do the next one'."

He said he hoped the rest of the panel, Will.i.am and Ricky Wilson, would stay on the show.

When asked about possible replacements for Rita, he said: "There's a few of them."

The 75-year-old said it was "up to the BBC" to find the new coach.

Nicole Scherzinger is among the names who have been rumoured to be replacing Rita Ora on The Voice

"That is a big chair to fill. That's the hardest one," he added.

"For one girl to be with three fellas on the show. I hope they get somebody who can handle it with a fresh face.

"I wish Rita had stayed on but that's the way it goes."

When asked if he'd ever think about following Rita to The X Factor he said: "I don't think so. I'm happy where I am."

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