Olly Murs

Oliver Stanley Murs (born 14 May 1984) is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He came to prominence after participating on the sixth series of the television talent show The X Factor in 2009, where he finished as runner-up. Following the show, Murs was signed to RCA Records and Sony Music in the United Kingdom, and Columbia Records in the United States.

In 2010, Murs released his self-titled debut studio album, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number two and was certified double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It included the hit singles "Please Don't Let Me Go" and "Thinking of Me". His second studio album, In Case You Didn't Know (2011), debuted at number one in the UK and resulted in two number-one singles: "Heart Skips a Beat" and "Dance with Me Tonight". Murs released his third studio album, Right Place Right Time (2012), and released six singles from it; the first, "Troublemaker", was his fourth number one in the UK.

In 2014, Murs released the single "Wrapped Up" featuring Gym Class Heroes' Travie McCoy, which reached the top-five on the UK Singles Chart. This was the first single to be released from his fourth studio album, Never Been Better (2014), which entered the UK Albums Chart at number one. It was followed by a second single, "Up", featuring American singer Demi Lovato. Following the release of his fifth studio album, 24 Hrs (2016), and its lead single "You Don't Know Love", Murs released his sixth studio album, You Know I Know (2018). After parting ways with RCA Records, Murs signed with EMI Records to release his seventh studio album, Marry Me (2022).

In 2011, Murs returned to The X Factor to co-present its spin-off show The Xtra Factor, alongside Caroline Flack. In 2015, he reunited with Flack to replace Dermot O'Leary as co-presenters of The X Factor for series 12. From 2018 to 2023, he was a coach on the television talent show The Voice UK. In March 2024, Murs became a co-host of Heart Radio's Saturday morning slot alongside Mark Wright.

Murs was born on 14 May 1984 in Witham, Essex, the son of Vicky-Lynn and Pete Murs. He has a twin brother, Ben, and a sister, Fay. He is partially of Latvian descent and his paternal great-grandparents were circus performers Eduards Alberts Mūrs and Veronika Jankovska. He attended Howbridge Junior School in Witham and Notley High School in Braintree, Essex, where he was a striker in the school's football team.

Murs played semi-professionally for Isthmian Division One North side Witham Town between 2006 and 2008. He excelled for the club's reserve team during the 2006–07 season, scoring 12 goals in 13 appearances and winning the Ridgeons Reserve Teams Cup. He made three first team appearances in the following season, scoring once, but was forced to give up his football career following an injury.

Prior to The X Factor, Murs worked at Kitchens Direct as a telemarketer and then as a recruitment consultant at Prime Appointments in Witham, and performed as part of a covers band called the Small Town Blaggers with a friend, Jon Goodey. He also appeared on the game show Deal or No Deal in 2007, where he won £10. Murs returned for a celebrity version of the show in 2012, which made him the only person to appear on the programme as a contestant twice. In 2008, he travelled to Australia, backpacking alone along the Gold Coast for three months. It was upon his return that he decided, having tried it out unsuccessfully twice in the past (when he failed to make it past the stage where he had to audition in front of the producers), to re-audition for The X Factor.

In 2009, Murs auditioned for the sixth series of The X Factor, performing Stevie Wonder's "Superstition". Judge Simon Cowell said it was "the easiest yes I've ever given". At bootcamp Murs sang Elton John's song "Your Song". On the first live show, he sang "She's the One" and on the second, "A Fool in Love", a performance which Cowell described as being "in a different league." For week three he took on "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered". Louis Walsh commented that he was the "dark horse of the competition," and Cowell said he was "coming into his own each week." He frequently employed dance moves in his performance including his trademark "Olly wiggle." In week 4 he sang "Come Together" and again received positive comments, with Walsh predicting, "I think you're in the final three," and Cowell saying he was "progressing better than just about everybody." In week 5 he performed "Twist and Shout" and in week 6 "Don't Stop Me Now", after which he was labelled by Minogue as, "absolutely the best performer we have on the show by far."