Olly Murs has expressed his displeasure after being fired from The Voice UK after six years as a coach.
The 39-year-old former X Factor contestant joined the hit ITV talent programme in 2017 and has served on the panel with Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson, Meghan Trainor, and Anne-Marie.
Olly, on the other hand, will not be returning in 2024, a choice he promises was not ‘amicable.’
In a recent interview, the singer also swore not to ‘bulls**t’ his fans by claiming he wanted to quit.
Confirming his time as a coach has come to an end, Olly told The Sun: ‘I’m gutted. I got the call last week to say I won’t be back on the show, and it’s a bit of a shock, to be honest. I didn’t really expect that to come.’
The Heart Skips A Beat singer continued: ‘But I don’t want to sit here like other artists might, and shine and gloss this up and say, “It was my decision.” I don’t want to do that.
‘I don’t want to bulls**t my fans or bulls**t people who watch the show, and say, “Oh, it was an amicable decision to leave, I’ve got lots of things on next year, I can’t do it anymore.” No.’
Despite his own resentment, Olly will continue to watch.
‘Genuinely, I accept their decision, and they’ll find someone great, I’m sure,’ he added. ‘But am I going to miss it? Yeah.’
The start then said: ‘Did I want to leave? No. Will I still watch the show? Of course, but it’ll be sore thinking that could have been me …’
Olly had a good run in the singing competition, winning twice with his team.
The chart-topper maintains that he still has a ‘wonderful connection with ITV,’ and that his departure was more the choice of production firm Talpa than the station itself.
But he has yet to meet with his other celebrity trainers, and there is one person in particular he will miss.
‘They told my team they’re looking at new people. I don’t know if anyone knows yet, but I will really miss Tom, especially as I got very close to him,’ added the Dear Darlin’ hitmaker.
‘I’m going to miss drinking champagne after the show with him and chatting life stories but hopefully, if he reads this, he might get in touch.
‘I loved The Voice and will always remember my first day on the set — how nervous I was, sitting in that big, red scary chair.
‘But I felt I took to it like a duck to water and really just enjoyed it. I am really going to miss it.’
Olly went on to heap praise on the people ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘everyone involved in the show’, as he’s ‘gutted not to be doing it again.’
Alas, Olly accepts that he has to ‘move on’.
‘I’ve had knockbacks in my career before, I will be fine. Something exciting will come along,’ he added, keeping optimistic.
‘But this year has been such a year of positives for me, I always thought something bad might come around… and I guess this is it.’
When contacted for comment, ITVsaid: ‘The Voice UK returns to ITV1 and ITVX for a brand new series later this year featuring coaches Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, Anne-Marie and Olly Murs.
‘Details of the 2024 series will be confirmed in due course.’
Olly’s firing as a coach is the second blow to his TV career in recent weeks.
Unfortunately, Starstruck, which he hosted, has been cancelled and will not return for a third season.
The glittering competition programme encouraged regular individuals to undergo amazing changes as they were transformed into their favourite singers, like Harry Styles, Cher, Meatloaf, and Taylor Swift.
At the end of what was termed a modern version of Stars in Their Eyes, a £50,000 prize was presented, with Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight, Shania Twain, and Jason Manford on the jury.
Despite being well welcomed by many, the singing show no longer has a future, leaving Olly ‘gutted’.
‘Presenting is something I have always loved doing. Starstruck was amazing but that isn’t coming back,’ he said.
‘I am gutted it is such a great show. In this game, things change so quickly.
‘The ratings did really well but in terms of money and stuff like that, it just didn’t work,’ he added when speaking to The Sun at the National Television Awards.
Thankfully, Olly won’t be sitting at home twiddling his thumbs next year, as he’ll be back on the road.
Olly will join Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald on their upcoming Take That tour, which will take place between April and June 2024.
