Tony Cowell
Olly Murs, 33, shot to fame on The X Factor. Now, with more than 10 million record sales, he’s the show’s most successful solo act…
You’re touring for the whole summer, and just done the Capital Summertime Ball. Is playing live still exciting? Playing live is the best thing I get to do. When I was on The X Factor, I found it quite stressful. Nowadays, I just have fun and be myself, and I think the fans enjoy that, whatever their age. I’m just a lucky boy from Essex who loves performing. Your new single is a duet with Louisa Johnson. How did that come about? We met on The X Factor when I was hosting and she won the show. I just thought she was amazingly talented. She’s also on my tour with me, so I thought it would be a great idea to make a single together. We have a lot in common, and we’re both from Essex! Your new album feels a lot more personal. Did you find that difficult following your recent break-up with Francesca [Thomas]? It was and it wasn’t. In one way, I wanted to give my fans a bit more of me in a personal way. I felt I needed to open up a bit and tell the truth. I also wanted to tell my ex how I felt about certain things, so in a way it was quite an honest album, and I’m proud of that. You’ve come a long way since you were runner-up on The X Factor in 2009. How do you look back on that period? With great fondness. I get butterflies when I think about it – it’s still a very big part of my life. I’ve returned to the show to perform as an artist, and I’ve been a presenter on it, so I have to say I’m a big fan of the show and the opportunities it provides. I would never distance myself from The X Factor, because I don’t know where I would be today if I hadn’t auditioned back in 2009. Are you glad you didn’t win, as the pressure to succeed may have been greater? I don’t know. Over the years, I have thought to myself, ‘ What if?’ I remember being in that sing-off with Jedward when I finally got through – that was a defining moment for me! I would like to think that if I had won, I would have been offered the same opportunities – but who knows? Simon has always praised your charm and work ethic. Is that important to you? You have to have the work ethic in this business – otherwise you’ll fail. I’ve always been determined to succeed, starting from a very early age. Your brother [Simon] has that same work ethic, that determination, and he doesn’t like to lose. I’d like to think I’m the same, but I also respect my fans, and try to give them a part of my life via social media. I didn’t even win the show, so I do value what I have achieved so far, and I’m very grateful. Do you think The X Factor is still relevant? Yes, I do, because it’s giving teenagers like Louisa a chance they may not otherwise have got. Like me – I would watch the show and think, ‘I could do that; I should give it a shot.’ That’s why it’s still relevant. As an artist, it’s still a great platform to perform a new song to 10 million people. There isn’t anywhere else on TV you would get that opportunity.
You’ve denied claims you’re doing Strictly this year. Would you ever consider it? I’d never say never – it’s a great show, and there may come a time when I’d consider going on it, but I can’t put my music on hold at the moment, so it’s a no from me [ laughs]. Following your split from Francesca in 2015, are you in a happier place now? I think so. It’s still difficult at times, because you do miss what you don’t have. But you have to move on, so I’ve thrown myself back into work. Sometimes, in relationships, you get a bit too comfortable, so now I’m having ‘me’ time and spending time with my family. I’ve spent the last year-and-a-half learning more about myself. I’ll see what happens with new relationships but, right now, I’m OK. Do you see a time when you will settle down and have kids? I hope so. That would be amazing. I would love to have kids some day soon. Hopefully by then I can afford to take a step back from my career and help bring up a family. That’s the dream, anyway.