Olly Murs has made it clear he’s not happy after being axed from The Voice UK after six years as a coach.
The 2009 X Factor star, 39, joined the hit ITV talent show in 2017 and has sat on the panel alongside the likes of Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones, Jennifer Hudson, Meghan Trainor, and Anne-Marie.
However, Olly will not be back in 2024, a decision he assures was not ‘amicable.’
The singer has also vowed not to ‘bulls**t’ his fans by pretending he wanted to leave, hitting out in a new interview.
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 bitter feelings, Olly will still be tuning in.
‘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 enjoyed a successful stint on the singing show, winning twice with his team.
The chart-topper insists he still has a ‘great relationship with ITV’ and he believes his exit was more the decision of production company Talpa, rather than the channel itself.
But, he’s yet to have a sit-down chat with his fellow celebrity coaches – and there’s one person in particular he’s going to 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, ITV told Metro.co.uk: ‘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.’
Getting the chop as a coach is the second blow Olly’s had to his TV career in recent weeks.
Sadly, Starstruck – which he hosted – has also been scrapped and won’t be returning for a third season.
The glitzy competition show invited ordinary people for extraordinary transformations as they underwent makeovers to perform as their favourite artists, including the likes of Harry Styles, Cher, Meatloaf, and Taylor Swift.
A £50,000 prize was awarded at the end of what was dubbed a modern version of Stars in their Eyes, with Adam Lambert, Beverley Knight, Shania Twain, and Jason Manford on the panel.
Despite being received warmly by many, the singing show no longer has a future which, again, has left 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, as he’s heading back out on the road next year.
Olly will support Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald on their next Take That tour between April and June 2024.
Reps for Olly Murs have been contacted for further comment.
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