Sir Tom Jones, 84, in 'secret funeral pact' with close pal as they detail surprise rule 'if he goes first'
Sir Tom Jones has made a 'secret pact' with pal Jimmy Tarbuck about their funerals
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Sir Tom Jones has made a "secret" deal with close friend Jimmy Tarbuck, 84, that whoever dies first has to have the other sing at their funeral.
The 84-year-old singer, who was recently branded "sensational" by concertgoers on his latest tour, shows no signs of slowing down in his career - despite making a worrying admission about his voice last month.
Tarbuck similarly continues to entertain his crowds of adoring fans, currently embarking on a speaking tour across the UK.
The duo have been close friends for the best part of five decades after shooting to stardom at similar times in their early careers.
Discussing the pair's close bond and rather unique mortality pact, Tarbuck said: "Tom and I have made a secret pact.
"If I go first, he’s going to sing at my funeral and if he goes first, then I am going to sing at his.
Jimmy Tarbuck has opened up about his bond with Sir Tom Jones
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"He is a great friend and is still the best singer of them all today," he praised.
Tarbuck went on to joke: "He still gets women throwing their knickers at him. What will I get thrown at me if I sing at his funeral?
"Probably bottles of beer. But I’ll just say, ‘Thank you very much’ and drink them," he quipped to the Mirror.
Not only do the pair remain firm friends, but Tarbuck described the Welsh crooner as "a mentor" for the way he supported the comedian following his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Sir Tom Jones continues to perform for crowds across the globe at 84 years old
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Amid his treatment at London’s Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital, Tarbuck added to the publication that Jones "helped me throughout".
Jones, who's performing in Halifax and Derby this week before heading to Malta on Tuesday for the latest leg of his tour, recently opened up on how ageing is affecting his abilities on stage.
Speaking to Yours magazine, Jones admitted that as long as his voice holds up, he'll keep on performing - although he has "less control" of it nowadays.
"Thank God my voice is still working. I mean, I can’t believe it. When I am singing, I am like, ‘How the hell is this coming out of me?’" Jones admitted last month.
"If it was not there, I am sure I would be going, ‘Urgh, I don’t want to do so many shows,’ but I love it as it is still working. What could be better than that?"
Addressing the changes, he continued: "My voice is lower now. As we get older, our voices drop and we get more character in them, the older you get, the less control you have over your vocal cords.
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"All you have got to do is push it harder… and I can still do that. Now we are of a certain age, you have to look at life in a different light.
"I am not worn down in any way. Being older I feel I have got a point to prove. I can still sing and I can prove it so here it is."