Fans Are Left In Tears After Tom Jones’ ‘Magical’ Duet With The Son Of Lonny Donegan… But Some Viewers Brand The Audition ‘A Fix’

ByQuyen Anne

Apr 5, 2024

The Voice returned to screens on Saturday night and after one episode succeeded in making viewers emotional after a heartfelt duet between judge Tom Jones and hopeful Pete Donegan.

Twitter users took to social media after it was revealed Pete was the son of 60s star Lonnie Donegan who collaborated with Sir Tom, 78, on his famous track I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.

The Welsh superstar was visibly moved when Pete revealed who his father was and after the hopeful secured a place in Tom’s team, the pair sang a heartfelt rendition of the late singer’s tune.

Rendition: The Voice returned to screens on Saturday night and after one episode succeeded in making viewers emotional after a heartfelt duet between judge Tom Jones and hopeful Pete Donegan

Rendition: The Voice returned to screens on Saturday night and after one episode succeeded in making viewers emotional after a heartfelt duet between judge Tom Jones and hopeful Pete Donegan

The ballad was originally written by Lonnie and released by Sir Tom in 1967, but the pair’s cover moved viewers to tears, with some calling for the duo to release their version.

Taking to Twitter a viewer said: ‘I tell you what, The Voice UK doesn’t half create some magical moments for musicians. That Tom Jones & Pete Donegan (Lonnie’s son) moment was amazing’.

Another used the social media site to say: ‘OMG Tom!!! That duet was stunning! You both need to release that again. Your voices harmonise beautifully together. That was the best moment on #TheVoice ever’.

Famous family: Twitter users took to social media after it was revealed Pete was the son of 60s star Lonnie Donegan who collaborated with Sir Tom, 78, on his famous track I'll Never Fall In Love Again

Famous family: Twitter users took to social media after it was revealed Pete was the son of 60s star Lonnie Donegan who collaborated with Sir Tom, 78, on his famous track I’ll Never Fall In Love Again

Old friends: The Welsh superstar was visibly moved when Pete revealed who his father was and after the hopeful secured a place in Tom's team, the pair sang a heartfelt rendition of the song

Old friends: The Welsh superstar was visibly moved when Pete revealed who his father was and after the hopeful secured a place in Tom’s team, the pair sang a heartfelt rendition of the song

Praise: Taking to Twitter a viewer said: 'I tell you what, The Voice UK doesn't half create some magical moments for musicians. That Tom Jones & Pete Donegan (Lonnie's son) moment was amazing'

Praise: Taking to Twitter a viewer said: ‘I tell you what, The Voice UK doesn’t half create some magical moments for musicians. That Tom Jones & Pete Donegan (Lonnie’s son) moment was amazing’

With another admitting ‘[I] cried my eyes out at The Voice when Tom started singing. That was pretty amazing’.

One questioned Tom’s ability to ‘crack out an impromptu performance like that’ as praise for the pair flocked in.

But some viewers were less than impressed and branded the performance a fix.

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Not impressed: But some viewers were less than impressed and branded the performance a fix

Not impressed: But some viewers were less than impressed and branded the performance a fix

An unimpressed user said: ‘Tom Jones and Pete Donegan was an incredible TV moment. But hard to believe it wasn’t a setup’.

One said: ‘This smells of a fix, the guy before was 10 times better than this guy. Then he didn’t write a song for Tom Jones’.

With another adding: ‘I wish I’d put a bet on Tom saying exactly this!! So set up! I knew he was going to say “no relation to Lonnie?” etc and “I used to sing with your father”. Fix. The other guy sounded better.’

Another angry viewer commented: ‘What a fix, what a load of pre-arranged rubbish’.

Not happy: An unimpressed user said: 'Tom Jones and Pete Donegan was an incredible TV moment. But hard to believe it wasn't a setup'

Not happy: An unimpressed user said: ‘Tom Jones and Pete Donegan was an incredible TV moment. But hard to believe it wasn’t a setup’

Speaking to MailOnline ahead of the new series this week though Sir Tom was adamant he had no idea Pete would be auditioning, explaining:

‘That was remarkable. I hope people at home don’t think it was a setup or anything. When he said Peter Donegan, because Donegan isn’t a common name. He said yeah it was my father!’

Will.i.am agreed, adding: ‘That was magical, just all the things that happened in the world for that to happen…There’s nothing like that. That’s like if there was a movie that was like there’s no way stuff like that happens in real life. That’s real life.’

Not impressed: One said: 'This smells of a fix, the guy before was 10 times better than this guy. Then he didn't write a song for Tom Jones'

Not impressed: One said: ‘This smells of a fix, the guy before was 10 times better than this guy. Then he didn’t write a song for Tom Jones’

Amazing: Lonnie is one of the most pioneering singers of the 1960s, having earned the title of  The King of Skiffle

Amazing: Lonnie is one of the most pioneering singers of the 1960s, having earned the title of  The King of Skiffle

Lonnie was viewed as one of the pioneers of 60s music, with the alternative title The King of Skiffle, and was the voice behind the number one singles Cumberland Gap, Gamblin’ Man and My Old Man’s a Dustman.

Following a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery in 1976 Lonnie stepped away from the music scene for many years, but continued to gig regularly.

After playing Glastonbury in 1999 and being made an MBE the following year, Lonnie sadly passed away in 2002 after another heart attack.

Iconic: Lonnie - who also wrote Tom Jones' hit I'll Never Fall In Love Again - received an MBE in 2000 before passing away in 2002

Iconic: Lonnie – who also wrote Tom Jones’ hit I’ll Never Fall In Love Again – received an MBE in 2000 before passing away in 2002

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