Olly Murs officially announced as The Voice UK judge following Gavin Rossdale's departure
Olly Murs has officially been welcomed into The Voice UK family after it was confirmed he will be the new coach on the upcoming series.
The former X Factor runner-up will take over Gavin Rossdale’s big red chair after the Bush frontman stepped down from his role following this year’s series.
Olly will join returning coaches Will.i.am, Sir Tom Jones and Jennifer Hudson, who was the first female coach to win the show with Mo Adeniran at the start of the year.
In a statement, Olly revealed he was ‘buzzing’ about his new gig, and fancies his chances at winning the competition.
‘I’m absolutely buzzing about being a coach on The Voice UK and can’t wait to sit in the big red chair alongside will, Jennifer and Tom,’ he said.
‘I’m excited to mentor new artists and without doubt, I’m in it to WIN!’
Olly’s decision to join the programme is said to have annoyed his former mentor and colleague Simon Cowell, who had considered the Essex boy a member of the ‘X Factor family’.
The Heart Skips A Beat hitmaker rose to fame on the rival ITV singing competition back in 2009, where he was runner up to winner Joe McElderry.
In 2015 he returned as a co-host on the show alongside fellow presenter Caroline Flack, taking over from Dermot O’Leary.
Meanwhile, last year’s finalist Jamie Miller is also joining the fold as the new backstage reporter, bringing all the behind the scenes gossip to The Voice UK’s digital platforms.
He said: ‘I’m so excited to be back, but this time on the other side watching people achieve their dreams. The Voice UK was always something so close to my heart so to return as the backstage reporter is incredible!’
Olly will join the rest of the panel when auditions kick off in Salford on October 14 and 15.
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