Olly Murs admits he no longer keeps in touch with X Factor co-stars Stacey Solomon and Joe McElderry: ‘I don’t know why’-Adam Miller-Entertainment – Metro

Olly looks back at his life on The X Factor like it was ‘The Hunger games’ (Picture: Getty Images)

They may have been thick as thieves during their time on The X Factor, but Olly Murs has revealed he no longer speaks to his co-stars Joe McElderry and Stacey Solomon.

Olly, 38, came second on The X Factor 2009, beaten by Joe, 31, with Stacey, 33, finishing in third place.

However, the Troublemaker chart-topper had the biggest music career coming off the series, which also saw the likes of Jedward, Danyl Johnson and Rachel Adedeji compete for the record deal with Simon Cowell’s label Syco.

Appearing on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, Olly said he was unsure how the group lost touch.

‘I don’t really, no,’ he told Jessie and her mum Lennie.

Even though Stacey lives nearby, he explained: ‘Me and Stacey always got on really well. But again, it was really hard.

The Ex Factor – Olly admits he’s no longer pals with his former co-stars (Picture: Getty Images)

‘It was really hard to I don’t know, I don’t know why we don’t keep in contact. And it’s a good question.

‘I don’t know why we just we all went off on our own little paths. And we went and did our own thing.’

He compared the process to ‘The Hunger Games’, adding: ‘We were literally thrown into a house. And it was like each week one person would leave and be like a revolving door.

Stacey has launched a hugely successful TV career (Pictyre: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

‘And then it was kind of like, well, I’m still here. And so there was definitely massive amounts of competition between us all.’

Joe was famously beaten to the Christmas number one by Rage Against The Machine a week after winning The X Factor. His follow-up single Ambitions reached number six on the official singles chart but quickly fell out of the top 40 entirely. He was later dropped following the release of his debut album Wide Awake.

Olly went on to achieve four number one singles, released seven studio albums and is currently a judge on The Voice UK but still admitted he was ‘embarrassed’ to have such a successful career over singers that were ‘better’.

Joe still performs in theatre (Picture: Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

‘I got on really well with all of them,’ he said. ‘But then when I left, I suppose my career went in a different direction to all the other guys because although a lot of them did music, mine just sort of catapulted a bit.

‘So I felt almost a bit like how do I speak? Because these guys were all much better singers than me actually.

‘Fantastic singers like the control the range, how great their voices were the power they sing every day. I was always just the lad from Essex that sung a bit of karaoke, got a bit of luck, really, but I was a performer, not necessarily the best singer.

‘So I got a bit embarrassed, and I was a bit like, well, do I deserve it
or not? I don’t know.

‘I wish I kept in contact with them more but I think the great thing about us all when we see each other, we have this unique bond that we all share the same experience.

‘It’s really hard to understand.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More