Tom Jones gives health update as he reveals he needs a new hip

The music legend, 82, had his left hip replaced in 2017, but says his right one is now giving him trouble with doctors advising he has surgery.

The only issue is, he can’t find time in his busy schedule as he’s booked up with live shows in the US and Canada for the next couple of months.

At least the Delilah hit-maker gets to sit down for a bit as he resumes his role as a judge on The Voice UK, which returns for its 11th series this Saturday, hosted by Emma Willis.

He, along with will.i.am, Anne-Marie and Olly Murs, will take their place once again in the spinning red chairs as a new batch of hopefuls sing for them in the hopes of getting one of them to turn around and have a shot at winning a recording contract.

Speaking to the Standard and other press at ITV’s Entertainment Autumn Showcase ahead of the launch of the new series, Sir Tom was in good spirits as he explained: “I’ve got to have a new hip.

“I had [my left hip] done five years ago and it worked great, so now [my right hip’s] starting to go – wear and tear! So, at the moment, I’m bone on bone! That’s what the fella [doctor] told me.

“But I’ve got a tour to do in America first, I can’t go in now. He said ‘well, you should!’ I said ‘I can’t, I’ve got a show to do!’

“I walk on, I’m alright for like four songs and then it really starts to hurt. So I sit on a stool and do the rest from there and everybody loves it!

“I said ‘look, it’s either me getting my bloody hip done and I won’t be able to come here, or do it from the stool and that’s it, so that’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve got 20 shows coming up.”

Insisting he is fine, he has been shunning pain killers, saying: “I’d rather not because when I lay down it’s alright and with a stick I take the weight off the leg when I’m walking and then it’s alright.

“I’ve got to be steadfast,” he added, with a trademark twinkle in his eye.

The Voice returns on Saturday, September 3 at 8pm on ITV and will also be available to watch on the ITV Hub.