I almost hit a real bum note at Edinburgh Castle gig
Stomach upset can’t spoil singer’s Edinburgh memories
EDINBURGH Castle is famous for its one o’clock gun but Olly Murs nearly endured another kind of explosion the last time he played the historic venue.
The 36-year-old, from Essex, has played the esplanade twice – in 2011 and 2017 – and has announced a third gig there next July.
And he revealed his top memory playing Scotland was during the 2017 show.
“My most memorable moment from Edinburgh wasn’t the nicest memory,” he said.
“I had a bad stomach the day of the gig and was genuinely not sure I was going to make it to the end of the set.
“Thankfully, I did – and the crowd were just so brilliant that it made me forget about it.”
It wasn’t the only worrying moment he had that day.
He added: “Our tour bus nearly got stuck coming up the hill. It’s a very steep road and there were loads of fans about.
“But we were very lucky with the weather last time I played there, so I’m hoping it will be the same again next year and everyone can have a good dance.
“With a Scottish crowd though, come rain or shine, you know they’ll always make sure they have a great night.” The singer caused a stir before his Glasgow Hydro show in 2017 by dancing naked backstage apart from a kilt thong.
He said: “A fan sent me a tiny kilt on a thong and I couldn’t resist trying it on for a laugh. I haven’t worn a kilt for a while but who knows – I might be persuaded to get one for the Edinburgh show next year.”
While he’s never visited Scotland as a tourist, he’s played here regularly since coming second in The X Factor in 2009.
And it’s not just music venues he’s enjoyed.
He said: “When I first started touring. I had a documentary crew following me around so we tried loads of the traditional Scottish foods – deep fried Mars bar was surprisingly good.”
Olly loves his grub and, like most of us, he spent lockdown eating too much. It was only when he was called up to captain the England side for last month’s Soccer Aid that he hit the gym.
He said: “When lockdown started I ate anything and everything in sight out of pure boredom. But when Soccer Aid was rescheduled to September, it gave me a
focus to trim down and get really fit.” Helping him get in shape was his girlfriend Amelia Tank, who he met in a gym last year and who moved in with him to his Essex mansion during lockdown. London-based communications manager Amelia, 27, who is originally from Plymouth, works at Lloyds Bank but is also a bodybuilder. It seems Amelia is the one – and lockdown has proved it to Olly. The pair spent the time pranking each other and he added:adde “I definitely think I wwould have had a completely comple different lockdownlockdow on my own. “AmeliaAme has been brilliant brillian – we don’t argue and she’s just great to have around so I’vI’ve loved having this time at home with her. I love her even more for the banterban and the prankspran – which she star started. “Lockdown has definitelyde had its momentsm and, like mostm people, I’ve hadh some days wherew I’ve lacked anyan energy or drive. But on the whole it’s made me feel very grateful.
“In 10 years I’ve never had the luxury of so much time at home, so I’m lucky I’ve had that chance to move in with my girlfriend, get a dog and just appreciate what I’ve got.”
The couple welcomed puppy Missy – a Japanese Shiba Inu – into their lives in July.
Olly is clearly a doting owner: “She’s a real character and it’s just been so nice to have a dog in the house.
“She’s made the house feel like a home. She’s very cute.”
Another change for Olly, who has had four UK No1 albums and is a coach on The Voice UK, is that he’s now a blond.
He revealed the change of colour during The Voice in January and has kept it during lockdown.
But sadly he hasn’t been having more fun.
The last year – even before Covid – has been a tough one for the star. In July 2019, the singer shared photos after he’d had surgery which included a metal plate being put into his left knee. He was rushed to hospital three months later when doctors thought he had sepsis – a potentially life-threatening condition.
The first test of months of rehab was Soccer Aid, in which he played 90
minutes. He said: “The op was pretty serious, as I essentially had a knee replacement at 35 but I’m grateful I could carve out the time to spend the necessary time and physio on it to get it to where it is. I didn’t quite get sepsis but was close.
“The metal plate with bolts holding my bone together got infected so I had to have my knee opened up again and cleaned out.”
Olly’s 25-date UK tour kicks off in June next year.
But he will be back before that as a coach on The Voice UK which will return later this month after being postponed because of the pandemic.
Olly, who has been a coach since 2017, said: “It’s such a great show to work on so doesn’t even feel like ‘work.’”
The singer, who as well as competing also presented The X Factor in 2015, wouldn’t be drawn on rumours that the show may not be coming back.
“I’ll always have positive things to say about X Factor as I wouldn’t be where I am today without having that platform to start my career,” he said.
“But it’s important to shine a light on new talent, no matter what the show – so I’m glad at The Voice, I’m able to be a part of that as a coach.”
● Olly Murs plays Edinburgh Castle on July 25, 2021. Tickets available from 9am on Friday at www.ollymurs.com