SINGER LIFTS LID ON HIS EXIT FROM REALITY SHOW

OLLY Murs says he’s glad Dermot O’Leary got his X Factor job back because he couldn’t handle the stress.

But the 2009 runner-up denied Simon Cowell axed him as show host for the long-standing presenter.

Olly, who hosted the talent contest while splitting up with ex-girlfriend Francesca Thomas, said: “I feel relief I’m no longer presenting because it takes so much out of you.

“I’m releasing a new album and couldn’t have done promo, touring and The X Factor.

“It would have been too stressful and would have spoilt the fun.”

Simon has brought back Dermot for the new series after Olly and his co-host Caroline Flack were panned by viewers last year. And the Dance With Me Tonight singer admitted he found his job a struggle and was “out of my comfort zone”.

“I had some serious moments of self doubt when I didn’t think I could go out on stage and wouldn’t have been able to without Caroline.”

But Olly said he had already resigned before Dermot was hired again.

He added: “I had to make the decision between music and TV and I knew I NICOLE Scherzinger’s hopes of filming Judges’ Houses in Hawaii have been dashed.

Producers are now looking at the South of France after her first choices of Hawaii and made the right decision straight away. I can say that confidently now because I’m happy with how good the album is.”

Olly is hoping to return to X Factor – but only as a singer. He added: “I’m really looking forward to going back on the show and performing music without the pressure of presenting.”

New single You Don’t Know Love is out now. His fifth album is expected to follow in November. Dubai proved too expensive.

Our insider added: “The original plans were scrapped when bosses realised how expensive it would be to fly out Nicole, her team, all the contestants and all the production crew.”

I’m told Scherzy is scouring her phone book to bag a famous helper after declining bosses’ offers of Craig David or Tinie Tempah.