Sir Tom Jones may have delivered one of the most memorable moments of the current series of The Voice UK after an innocent joke about a rap name suddenly turned into an impromptu lesson in British slang.

The 86-year-old singer left his fellow coaches and host Emma Willis struggling to contain their laughter during Saturday night’s episode, when he explained to his American co-star Kelly Rowland what the word “fanny” means in British English.

The unexpected exchange came after Will.i.am jokingly suggested that McFly star Danny Jones should use “Danny Fanny” as his rap name.

Kelly Rowland then joined in, suggesting that Danny could rap about it. But Tom quickly realised there was a rather significant difference between how the word is understood in Britain and in America.

Turning to Kelly, he explained that, in Britain, the word refers to female anatomy.

The blunt explanation immediately sent the panel into hysterics. Tom himself appeared to realise just how unexpectedly the conversation had turned, covering his mouth as he laughed.

Emma Willis was similarly stunned and covered her face as the studio erupted.

Kelly summed up the moment with a laugh, joking that nobody had expected the show to suddenly turn into a “sex ed conversation”.

Viewers call it one of the show’s funniest moments

The exchange quickly became a talking point among viewers, many of whom said they had replayed the scene because they found Tom’s reaction so funny.

Social media users praised the singer’s timing, with comments describing him as “the best”, an “international treasure” and calling the exchange “the funniest thing ever”.

One viewer said they had been thinking that Tom could not possibly say it before he actually did, while another compared the singer to a teacher unexpectedly explaining the meaning of the word.

Others simply found the “Danny Fanny” joke hilarious.

The reaction was particularly notable because the episode arrived just days after ITV confirmed that Tom would not return as a full-time coach for the show’s 15th series.

That announcement has overshadowed much of the current run of The Voice UK, with viewers questioning why one of the programme’s longest-serving coaches was being removed from the panel.

Fans react to Tom Jones’ departure

Tom’s departure became an immediate subject of discussion as Saturday’s episode aired.

Some viewers said they could not understand why the broadcaster was replacing the Welsh music legend, while others argued that his absence would change the character of the programme.

Several posts on X questioned the decision to remove Tom, with some viewers saying they would stop watching if he did not return.

One commenter described the decision as an “abysmal travesty”, while another called it a “huge loss” for ITV.

The reaction followed Tom’s own explanation of what happened. In a statement posted earlier this month, he made clear that leaving The Voice had not been his decision.

Tom said he loved the programme and appreciated its audience, but claimed ITV had made the decision some time earlier and that he had only been informed recently.

He said the initial reason given to him was financial difficulty relating to insurance. He later said the broadcaster had described the changes as a “refresh” of the programme.

Tom also revealed that he had been offered a substantially reduced role, in which he would make an appearance without being involved from the beginning of the show. He said he was unhappy with that proposal.

His final remark about there never being a good time to fire an 86-year-old who was still “pretty good at his job” quickly became one of the most widely reported lines from his statement.

ITV plans a major overhaul

ITV has since confirmed a substantial change to the programme for Series 15.

Cheryl and rapper Aitch will join the coaching panel, taking the places of Tom Jones, Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher. Kelly Rowland and will.i.am will return. ITV has described Tom as “irreplaceable” while thanking him for his years on the programme and the memorable moments he created.

The next series will also have a new presenting team.

Stacey Solomon and Alesha Dixon are set to take over from Emma Willis, who is moving on to host Strictly Come Dancing. ITV has confirmed that Series 15 will air in 2027.

The changes represent a significant overhaul of the programme’s familiar line-up, coming as the current series continues to air with Tom, Danny Jones, Tom Fletcher, Kelly Rowland and will.i.am on the panel.

Viewers at home lauded the ‘brilliant’ moment and admitted they had replayed it several times, sharing their thoughts online

Tom’s future with the show remains a point of discussion

Although ITV has confirmed that Tom will no longer be a full-time coach, the broadcaster has previously indicated that discussions about possible involvement with the programme were continuing.

A spokesperson said the show had loved working with Tom over the previous nine years and that conversations with him and his team about his involvement in the next series were continuing.

Tom’s comments, however, made clear that he had wanted to remain in the role he had held for years rather than return in a limited capacity.

His departure has therefore become an unusual backdrop to the current series. Viewers are still watching Tom in the red chair while knowing that the panel around him is about to change dramatically.

That was perhaps what made Saturday night’s “Danny Fanny” exchange resonate so strongly with fans. For many viewers, the scene captured the relaxed humour and unpredictability that Tom has brought to the programme.

And with his future on The Voice now uncertain, the spontaneous moment has given audiences another memorable Tom Jones scene to look back on.

The current series continues on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player, while Series 15 is scheduled to broadcast in 2027.