![Olly Murs](/upload/news/2023/10/30/118327.jpg)
Olly Murs has admitted that he's 'so sad' that this will be his last season on The Voice UK after he was given his marching orders by show bosses, who are hoping to secure fresh judges for next year's show.
Earlier this month, former X Factor star Olly, 39, revealed his disappointment at his shock impending departure. "I got the call to say I won’t be back on the show, and it’s a bit of a shock, to be honest," he said. "I didn’t expect that." Speaking to the Mirror, he said: "They’ll find someone great, I’m sure. But am I going to miss it? Yeah. 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."
Ahead of the brand-new series, which kicks off on November 4 and when Olly will join his co-stars, Tom Jones, Anne-Marie, and WILL.I.AM, Olly shared his sadness about it being his last season on The Voice UK after a seven-year stint.
"I feel so proud of this show. When I started I never imagined I would be here for 6 or 7 years," Olly said. "I’m sad to be leaving but so happy to have been a part of the show. I’m hoping this series will be the best one yet."
After both Tom Jones and Anne-Marie insisted that Olly was the most competitive judge on the show, host Emma Willis also agreed that the singer often gets caught up in the competitive aspect of the show. In response, Olly insisted: "The reason they have said me is because I'm so open about it. I'll say I want to win – yet actually underneath it all they're just as competitive as me, they just don't want to show it. They all want to win! They're more tactical than me, but it means a lot to me because that was once me.
"When I watch the contestants I know what that feeling is like. I'm someone that came from a show too so this is my environment and it’s where it started for me. The other judges are right, I take it more to heart and personally because that was once me.
"I really want them to win, but it's not about me, if I'm the coach that gave them that chance then great. I'm happy for anyone who enters the show, as long as they show us all respect, I want them to go on to do amazing things and have great careers and excel."
Olly went on: "We all have the same common interest in music and singing. I am very lucky to be in the position I'm in to be able to give people advice and coach them. I think there's only been one year that I got really upset I didn't win and that's because I knew how much it meant to the contestant."
Despite being axed from The Voice, Olly now looks set to replace another Voice UK alum in the form of Rita Ora on ITV's The Masked Singer UK. The 39-year old, who shot to fame on X Factor in 2009, will join Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and comedian Mo Gilligan on the next series.