Inside The Voice coach Olly Murs' sacking from show and his furious reaction
Olly Murs had been swivelling around in his coach's chair for six years on The Voice before he was sacked.
The Dear Darling singer, 39, joined the likes of stars, including will.i.am and Tom Jones on the ITV show, in which hopefuls perform 'anonymously' convincing the coaches to press their big red buttons for a chance to stay in the competition – just by the power of their pipes.
Olly has won the show twice as a coach and admitted he was "gutted" when he found out this season's series will be his last. So, as we gear up to watch the new hopefuls in the competition, which kicks off tonight – which has a huge twist and a exciting new category – here's the low down on the X Factor star's shock exit.
Why has Olly Murs been sacked from The Voice UK?
Olly said his team were told by ITV bosses the show was "looking at new people" for the coaching role before he was given the boot. Black Eyed Peas star will.i.am, and Welsh legend Sir Tom Jones are still said to be signed up for more seasons of the smash-hit show, which kicks off tonight. While singer Anne-Marie has also reportedly been axed from the programme's upcoming series.
Olly Murs admitted he was 'gutted' after being dropped from The Voice (ITV)
He said ITV was looking for 'new talent' for the role (Football for Change)Speaking about the next series in 2024, a source told the The Sun : "ITV wants to ensure that the show pulls in teens, so they are always looking at who is hot in the music world."
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Despite shooting to fame on the X Factor in 2009, Olly is still making music. In October 2022, he released single Die of a Broken Heart, which debuted at number 19 on the UK Official Downloads Singles Chart Top 100 a week later and he also announced the Marry Me Tour for 2023. However, whether his songs are 'hot' enough for The Voice's big wigs looks doubtful.
He was also said to have been very competitive. 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."
Shock reaction
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."
Insisting his exit wasn't his decision, he told The Sun : "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 any more’."
Sharing his sadness about it being his last season on The Voice UK after a seven-year stint, he concluded: "I feel so proud of this show. When I started I never imagined I would be here for 6 or 7 years. I’m sad to be leaving but so happy to have been a part of the show."
Who will replace Olly?
Following his reaction to leaving the show, fans have now been speculating as to who could fill Olly's spot on the panel. A new musician with a "large teenage audience" is said to be onboard as viewers try and guess their identity.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: "Now that The Voice Kids and Starstruck have been cancelled I wonder if ITV’s plan is to bring over talent from those shows - Danny Jones or Adam Lambert perhaps? or Shania Twain ideally," they mused.
Another agreed by saying: "Danny Jones would be a great shout." The McFly star has been a coach on The Voice Kids since 2017, but bosses confirmed the programme would not return next year. The Daily Star quizzed AI expert Bard to get its take on Olly's replacement. First up was rising star Tom Grennan while also in the running - although a bit of an outsider in our books - is global superstar, Ed Sheeran.
Who else has been given the axe from The Voice?
Singer Anne-Marie has also been axed as a coach from The Voice, according to reports. The Unhealthy songstress, who has been part of the team since 2021, admitted she did not feel "worthy" of being a coach on The Voice UK during her debut – despite eventually winning the series.
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Anne-Marie is set to follow Olly out of The Voice's exit doorThe pop singer, from Essex, who will join the other coaches on this series, said she experienced doubt "the whole time" after joining the ITV singing competition and is now said to have been replaced by bosses with a musician, who has a "large teenage audience". A source told The Sun: "Anne-Marie has loved being part of the show but producers want to give the series a refresh.
"ITV wants to ensure that the show pulls in teens, so they are always looking at who is hot in the music world."
New twist to show's format
As we wait for the new show to kick off on Saturday, Olly revealed although there’s four coaches on the show, someone else will be pressing the button this year – and it’s not a coach! As well as a surprise special guest rocking up in the studio, this year for the first time groups have been allowed to audition for their chance to be crowned champion.
Contestants will take to the stage in a bid to be crowned this series’ winner, securing a recording contract with Universal Records as well as winning a massive £50,000 cash prize and a luxury holiday. As he gets ready for one last roll of the dice on the show, Olly said the the new format could make it the "best series yet".
What next for Olly?
Speaking about what's next for his career, Olly told The Sun: "I’ve had knockbacks in my career before, I will be fine. Something exciting will come along..."
However, the singer was dealt another blow in September as he confirmed the sad news that his ITV show Starstruck has been axed. But, in happier news he got hitched to bodybuilder Amelia Tank in the summer and revealed he's looking forward to the couple becoming parents in the future.
He married Amelia this summer (INSTAGRAM)
He's also been snapped up by ITV's The Masked Singer (Getty Images)Olly has also been snapped up by The Masked Singer and will join Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and comedian Mo Gilligan on the next series of the bonkers show, where panelists are tasked with revealing the real identity of celebrities rocking outlandish costumes.
* The Voice UK starts on Saturday 4th November at 8.25pm on ITV1, ITVX and STV
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