Olly Murs quits The X Factor following Caroline Flack’s exit

All over: Olly Murs has stepped down from The X Factor following Caroline Flack's exit
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty
Jennifer Ruby22 February 2016
The Weekender

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Olly Murs has stepped down from his role on The X Factor.

The pop star and presenter, who co-hosted the ITV show for just one year, has confirmed his departure just a few days after it was rumoured that Caroline Flack wouldn’t be returning.

Admitting that he wanted to focus on his singing career, the 31-year-old told The Sun:

“This was an incredibly hard decision to make and one I didn’t take lightly as I’ve really enjoyed co-hosting The X Factor.

X Factor 2015: Manchester Auditions

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“It’s been one big adventure and I loved every minute of it. But my heart belongs to music and I want to concentrate 100 per cent on making my next album and getting back to performing.”

Murs went on to say that he felt that hosting the show last year had meant jeopardising his music.

“Last November I was doing the show, promoting a new single and I felt increasingly like the music side of things had to be shoehorned into the TV schedule,” he said.

The news of Murs’ departure comes just a few days after it was revealed that Flack, 31, hadn’t been invited to return as host.

Judge Nick Grimshaw, who also only joined the show last year, has stepped down from his role on the judging panel.

A spokesperson for the DJ said: “After careful consideration, Nick has decided to rule himself out as a judge on this year's X Factor.

“He loved working on last year's series alongside Rita, Cheryl and Simon but it was very much a once in a lifetime experience.”

While his replacement is yet to be announced, Simon Cowell is thought to be considering re-instating Louis Walsh or bringing One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson on board.

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