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SA EXCLUSIVE: Olly Murs on The Voice UK's mind games and sneaky manoeuvres

Cape Town - With five multi-platinum albums and countless sold out arena tours, Olly Murs made his debut as a coach on The Voice UK in 2018 and now he’s back for more.

Great news for South African fans is that the new season of the show will air locally less than 24 hours after it airs in the UK.

With all four coaches from the 2018 series returning viewers are in for a real treat. The Voice UK airs Sunday nights at 18:00 on ITV Choice (DStv 123).

A QUICK Q&A WITH OLLY:

How does it feel to be back?

Feels great to be back. Same team and I really feel part of it now. Even though last year everyone made me feel so welcome, when you come back a second year it’s nice. Everyone’s on top form and we’re all getting on really well.

Do you think there’s been a change in you since last year?

I feel more comfortable. I feel the coaches have got to know me more. I feel they get my banter or sense of humour. They sort of understand what contestants I will go with. I feel like I’ve made the chair my own and I think they respect me and have got to know me which is great. Last year was a learning experience for all of us getting to know each other but I think we’re much more comfortable this year and we’re a real family. I think that’s going to really come across when people watch the show. We all genuinely get on. I think there’s a real bond between us. We don’t all hang out and go drinking and clubbing together but when we’re together as a four piece in those chairs there’s just something really special between us which I think the fans of the show see.

Do you think you’re approaching things differently this year? Have you become more selective?

I was a bit more selective this year. I didn’t want to come out too quickly. I found it harder at the Blinds. I think the coaches were a little bit easier on me last year. This year they came out hard and I had to think on my feet and I really felt wow this is a bit harder than last year. I had some really big battles with Will and I lost more than I won but then I won more than Tom.

Will was mind gaming me and trying to get in my head and flexing his muscles. We all know he’s lost weight and he was flexing his pecs a bit! That’s what it’s all about. It’s great that we have that banter with each other. There’s no malice, it’s just fun and friendly competition. And we’ve both got great teams.

When you do turn your chair that’s a massive turning point for a singer, what’s been the biggest turning point in your career?

I think the biggest turning point for me was getting my first number one. Coming off a reality show in X Factor. Coming from that and trying to be a success isn’t as easy as people think. I was very aware of that so bringing out my first single and getting to number one was a massive achievement for me and something I’ll never forget.

If you could choose anyone from any point in time to be your coach or mentor as you are to your team, who would that be?

I think I’ve already had that mentor really…Robbie Williams was that person for me and he still is now. He’s now one of my mates but certainly someone I look up to and appreciate and respect. He was there for me from day one. He mentored me for the first couple of years really, any questions I had. And when I went on tour with him in 2013 it was exceptional. We had a great tour together, it was amazing so that was really special.

Have you got a game plan to try and win?

Very difficult in the Voice to have a game plan. I just think I’ve got to be really on it with my song choices and make the right decisions. I think I am. It’s all going to come down to the public really and I’m hoping I’ve made the right decisions. I really, really hope I can get the winner this year and they can have as great a journey as Ruti did last year. My strategy should be to do as Tom did last year. I would say don’t underestimate my team.

READ NEXT: The Voice SA back for a third season

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