The X Factor is finally over and the speculation is already starting about who will be involved next year. We spoke to Olly Murs at a special Spotify gig in London to quiz him on whether he’ll be back and how he dealt with all the criticism he and co-host Caroline Flack received.
Has it been nice going back to the day job and singing today?
It’s so lovely to be back singing today. I’ve been doing it all year even thought I’ve been doing the presenting, so it’s been nice to flip between both. I like showing off my different skills, and testing myself. I don’t like to just sit in one lane.
You’ve done the singing, the presenting… what next?
We’ll see next year! But for now, my next challenge is to see how long I can sleep for over Christmas. I’m looking forward to having some time off and getting some nice family time.
It’s only just finished, but have you had the nod from Simon that you’ll be back on X Factor next year?
I have to wait and see, I don’t know, I really don’t. I’ve had such a great time on the show, I’m just thankful it’s over this season because it’s been so long I need a bit of a break. You just don’t know – we all get a year contract, the judges, presenters everyone, so you just have to see what ITV and Simon decide. Would you like to? Course, I loved it, I really enjoyed it but you have to wait and see what happens next year, I’ve got my music to do, it’s really up to everyone else. I’ve had a great time and loved it.
Has it been tough dealing with the criticism you and Caroline have faced?
People just like to criticise the X Factor, I don’t think it was person to me. I think people know I’m a nice guy. I don’t think I’m a crap presenter, that’s for sure. I think people just want to take a dig at X Factor as much as they can. Unfortunately, me and Caroline and others were put in the firing line. But we really enjoyed it apart from that stuff. I loved going down to X Factor every week and the atmosphere and when the cameras went live and it was live TV. There’s nothing better than that. Even with the mistake – I laughed about it. I never take myself too seriously, you’ve just got to enjoy it and embrace it. Life’s too short to worry about what happened two or three weeks ago
Are you the king of the Christmas Spotify playlist?
I am the best DJ. I find at every party I go to, I end up being the DJ and I really enjoy it – keeping it happy at the start, not playing the big tunes, then everyone comes in and you play the big ones. I’m a traditionalist – at the end of the night I like a good 25 minutes of ballads. I like to see old-school disco, like when you were younger and that last part of the party everyone couples up.