His latest studio album 24 HRS was released earlier this month and became his fourth consecutive LP to reach the top spot on the UK charts, becoming the most successful solo artist ever to come from the X Factor. Olly has sold out arena tours across the UK and cemented himself as one of the Britain’s very best live acts. He found time in his busy schedule to chat for precisely ten minutes to Ben Fitzgerald about buying chips, not giving a bollocks and touring his new album 24HRS. As a youngster you seemed keen on becoming a professional footballer – did you have any other ideas about how your life would pan out? I really was set on becoming a professional footballer when I grew up. I just wasn’t good enough though – I thought perhaps I would make it as a non-league player. You worked for a while in the glamorous world of recruitment consultancy - did you always have a desire to break out? I had no idea that life would take me on this journey. I feel incredibly lucky to be where I am. I always wanted to be well known but there is no way of knowing if you are ever going to achieve that success. You shot to fame as a result of your X-Factor appearance in 2009 – is that difficult to deal with that level of fame so quickly? 
It was a bit strange to begin with I suppose, it’s great though. Looking back, it took me about six months to get used to it. I really enjoy being well known and connecting with the fans. Everyone is so nice and polite to me all the time so it’s not a problem. I know that some people find it difficult, but I still see the same group of friends that I always did. We all do our jobs and life has taken us down different paths, but we’re still the same people. I’m a really grounded person. I can still go out and buy chips and do normal things that anyone else does, I don’t see that it needs to change. What do you attribute your success to – do you think you’ve been lucky or is it talent? It must be a bit of both to be honest – I imagine that I must have some talent because I don’t think you can get through the X-factor without it. That said, I’m aware that there are people out there who have better voices who have not achieved the same level of fame that I have. Did you struggle to be taken as a serious artist? Did you feel that you have had to prove yourself as being more than a product of a TV show? I don’t give a bollocks what people think about me. I just focus on being who I am and performing to the best of my ability. There’s no way that you can please all the people all the time – that’s just the way it is. There will always be people out there who try and knock you but I think I’ve shown the doubters out there that I’m a serious artist. Go on then… tell me about what to expect in your forthcoming tour. I think the people who follow me and love my music are the greatest –
that’s why I love going on tour. It’s brilliant to bring the album to life, there’s no better feeling in the world. People have said my latest album 24 HRS is a bit of a heartbreak album but there’s quite a few upbeat tracks on the album. I’m really looking forward to meeting the fans and putting everything into my performances. We’ve got a brilliant show lined up. Olly Murs will be appearing at Party in the Paddock at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday August 19 and at Westonbirt Arboretum in Tetbury on June 16. For tickets see www.ollymurs.com or here for Party in the Paddock
