Quick Read
- Olly Murs initially broke up with his now-wife Amelia Tank, citing personal struggles and emotional turmoil.
- The couple reconciled, married in July 2023, and now have two children: daughter Madison and son Albert.
- Olly has been open about his estranged relationship with his twin brother Ben, stemming from missing Ben’s 2009 wedding for The X Factor.
- Fatherhood has inspired Olly to reflect on family, fame, and his evolving music, with a new album set for release.
- Olly recently appeared on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, sharing insights into his personal and professional life.
Olly Murs’ Honest Journey: Struggles, Love, and Reconciliation
When people see Olly Murs on television—grinning, quick-witted, and ever the entertainer—they might assume his life has always been as buoyant as his on-stage persona. But behind the scenes, Olly’s path has been shaped by moments of self-doubt, heartbreak, and tough family decisions—making his story far richer than the average pop biography.
‘In Quite a Bad Place’: The Early Struggles
Before he became a household name, Olly Murs faced a period of profound loneliness and uncertainty. In a 2022 interview with The Mirror, Olly admitted, “All the cheekiness and the fun in the years I was single, it was just a facade. I was in quite a bad place at times. I didn’t talk about it to anyone. I just felt really [bleep], down and lonely. I didn’t like being single.” For a man whose career rests on connecting with crowds, this admission cuts through the public image, exposing the isolation that can come with fame.
This struggle bled into his private life. Olly, cautious and wary of intentions, found it hard to trust people. It was during this time, in 2019, that he met Amelia Tank. Their early dates, as Olly recalls, were “pretty crap—even she admits that.” He describes himself as “wishy-washy, very noncommittal. I was all over the place.” His hesitancy led him to break things off with Amelia, fearing vulnerability more than loneliness.
A Rekindled Romance and New Beginnings
But sometimes, clarity arrives in a rush. Olly had what he calls an “epiphany” that summer: “What am I doing, she’s [bleep]ing perfect, she’s the one for me. Stop being an idiot!” With this realization, he and Amelia rekindled their relationship. By February 2020, she moved into his Essex mansion. Their time together during the COVID-19 lockdown brought them closer, leading Olly to propose in June 2022. The couple married in July 2023, and in the months that followed, they welcomed two children: daughter Madison in April 2024, and son Albert in September.
Now a father of two, Olly reflects on his new role with gratitude: “I’m lucky that I’ve got a girl and a boy… I feel truly blessed to have two children, let alone just have one.” As for the possibility of expanding their family, he laughs: “Who knows? We’re happy, I’m happy. Amelia might change her mind [laughs]. Right now we’re on the same page, but who knows!”
Family Ties and Old Wounds: The Estrangement with His Twin
Parenthood, for Olly, has also stirred up memories and unresolved feelings about his own family. On a recent episode of The Therapy Crouch podcast with Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch, Olly opened up about his estranged relationship with his twin brother, Ben. The two have not spoken for years—a rift that began in 2009 when Olly chose to compete on The X Factor instead of attending Ben’s wedding, where he was meant to be best man. That decision, made at a crossroads between career and family, left lasting scars. Ben has since described feeling betrayed, believing Olly placed fame above family ties.
During the podcast, Olly reflected, “Yeah, me and my brother. Yeah, we haven’t spoken for a long time, but yeah, we were twins growing up, yeah.” He tried to inject some humor, “I say, ‘We were twins’; we’re still twins,” but the sadness lingered. He spoke fondly of their childhood, describing it as “quite special growing up.” The pain, though, is evident—especially as Olly navigates fatherhood himself. He’s confronted, perhaps more than ever, by what’s been lost.
Music, Marriage, and Moving Forward
Olly’s professional life continues to evolve alongside his personal one. His new album, Knees Up, set for release next week, offers a window into this new phase. “I wrote an album three years ago, and it was the Marry Me album. It was when we had no children, so it was like a honeymoon period… This album, I was able to be a little bit more cheekier with it. So when people hear it, the honeymoon period’s definitely gone, but in a fun way.” The tone is different—less wide-eyed romance, more playful realism. Life, as Olly describes it, is no longer about fairytales but about the joys and juggles of the everyday.
He recently appeared on Saturday Kitchen (BBC One), where, amid culinary demonstrations and celebratory restaurant news, he shared his excitement about the album and his gratitude for family. Even in the limelight, he seems more grounded—willing to share the messy, complicated, and beautiful parts of his story.
Balancing Fame and Authenticity
For Olly, the journey has never been linear. He’s had to make choices—some painful, some joyous—that have shaped who he is today. Fame has brought him opportunity and scrutiny, but also forced him to confront what matters most. The reconciliation of his public and private self is ongoing, a testament to the fact that even those who appear to have it all are still searching for balance.
As he moves forward—father, husband, artist, and son—Olly Murs continues to evolve in the public eye. His willingness to speak openly about his struggles and triumphs alike invites fans to see not just the star, but the human being behind the music.
Olly Murs’ story is a reminder that life’s most meaningful transformations often begin in our most vulnerable moments. His journey from loneliness and fractured family ties to finding love and purpose at home is not just about resilience, but about the courage to be honest—with ourselves and with those we love. As he navigates the ongoing challenges of fame and family, Olly stands as an example that happiness is not the absence of hardship, but the willingness to keep growing through it.
