In a surprisingly candid moment, pop star Olly Murs has opened up about his fractured relationship with his twin brother, Ben, admitting the pair haven't spoken for a long time.
The Podcast Revelation
The 'Troublemaker' singer made the rare admission during a conversation on The Therapy Crouch podcast, hosted by Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch, back in August. The discussion, which initially centred on his new son, Albert, born in September, turned to the topic of siblings born close together.
This prompted Olly to reveal his own twin connection, albeit a strained one. "Well, I'm a twin, I'm a twin. Yeah, no one ever...I mean, yeah, me and my brother. Yeah, we haven't spoken for a long time, but yeah, we were twins growing up, yeah," he told the hosts.
He then humorously corrected himself, clarifying, "I say, 'We were twins'; we're still twins, but no, we..." before confirming to Abbey Clancy that they are fraternal, not identical, twins.
A Look Back at a 'Special' Childhood
Despite the current estrangement, Olly Murs took a moment to reflect fondly on their shared past. "So, very special; twins are amazing. Like, when I look back at it, it was quite special growing up," he confessed, highlighting the complex emotions surrounding their relationship.
The rift between the brothers reportedly began in 2009, when Olly, then a contestant on The X Factor, missed his twin's wedding where he was supposed to be the best man. The decision caused a major family fallout.
At the time, Ben Murs did not hold back, telling the Sunday People that "Our family was torn apart because of X Factor. It was clear that people like Simon Cowell were more important to him than me," and reportedly branding Olly a "self-obsessed sell out".
Life Moves On: New Family and Music
While the relationship with his brother remains unresolved, Olly's life has moved forward significantly. He married wife Amelia Tank in 2022, and the couple recently welcomed their second child.
In other news, the 41-year-old singer also recently spoke about the evolution of his marriage, noting that the "honeymoon period's definitely gone", but in a positive and fun way. This shift in dynamic has even influenced the tone of his new music, which he says is cheekier and more reflective of their life with children.
Fans can next see Olly Murs on Saturday Kitchen Live on BBC One today (Saturday, November 15), from 10am to 11.30am.
