Olly Murs lands huge new ITV talent show role after he was axed from The Voice
OLLY MURS has been given a TV lifeline after landing a place on The Masked Singer panel.
The pop star was dumped by The Voice last month after six years as a coach on the talent show.
But I can reveal ITV hasn’t left him on the subs’ bench for long.
After a string of diary clashes for Rita Ora, Olly, will now cover her spot alongside Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and Mo Gilligan on the next series of The Masked Singer.
A TV source said: “The booking will be heartening to Olly.
His exit from The Voice came as a shock, so knowing ITV still rate him and want him on the channel will be such a boost.
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“It’s a sign they see him as part of the family and will be considered for future projects.
“Of course, Olly’s a pro when it comes to music, as well as having tons of experience as a TV judge.
“Plus, he is loved by audiences already. It all makes perfect sense.”
It comes after the singer told The Sun that he was “gutted” to hear The Voice did not want him to return.
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He said last month: “I got the call to say I won’t be back on the show, and it’s a bit of a shock, to be honest. I didn’t expect that.
“They’ll find someone great, I’m sure.
"But am I going to miss it? Yeah.
“Did I want to leave? No. Will I still watch the show?
"Of course, but it’ll be sore thinking that could have been me . . .”
It comes after I previously revealed comedy great Jennifer Saunders would also be filling in for Rita, who has been forced to sit out some episodes after committing to other work projects.
Of the clash, Rita said: “I’m gutted to be missing some episodes.
“But keeping my seat warm are some great guest panellists, who I’m told are also super-competitive and will keep the others on their toes.”
CALL HIM BEN FUR
BEN FOGLE and Dwanye Fields are back on our screens tonight in the second instalment of their Race To The Pole adventure.
But despite it being months since the adventurers’ Arctic trip, they are still finding fur in unlikely places, thanks to their Edwardian-era exploring gear.
Ben said: “There were days we were picking fur out of our eyes – we’re still finding it in our orifices.”
Endurance: Race To The Pole With Ben Fogle continues at 9pm tonight on Channel 5.
TURNER & POOCH
SOPHIE TURNER heads back to the Eighties in her new role as a jewel thief – and takes a cute little pal along for the ride.
She was spotted filming in Spain with a dog in her shoulder bag on the set of new ITVX drama Joan.
Behind large retro-style sunglasses, the Game Of Thrones actress was in character as real-life criminal mastermind Joan Hannington.
The drama, expected to air later this year, follows her journey to become one of the country’s most notorious thieves.
Sophie was sensational as Sansa Stark in Game Of Thrones, so I expect big things when the new drama finally hits our screens.
KEEPING UP WITH THE KASH
WITH their £1.6billion-plus fortune, the Kardashians have little need to try saving money.
But it doesn’t stop Kim from watching every penny.
On Sky documentary House Of Kardashian, Caitlyn Jenner revealed that when she helped step-daughter Kim move into her first home, the reality star and business-woman went round turning off the lights to save on bills.
She said: “Kim rented her first apartment on the other side of town.
"I was the mover, this was her apartment, she was paying for it.
"As a parent, I’d said to the kids, ‘Come on guys, you turn on a light in a room and then leave it on for hours, I’m paying the electric bill’.
“So as we’re walking out, Kim goes round and turns off all the lights, because now she was paying for it.
“I was dying laughing. She watches every penny.”
House Of Kardashian is available to stream on NOW.
OTI MABUSE is supporting ITV’s Britain Get Talking campaign to help kids’ mental health by asking them to complete a homework task of opening up with their family.
She said: “I work with a lot of children and it’s really important they are able to talk about what they’re thinking.
“For the children taking part in the homework task I am proud of you.”
JACOB’S ROLE IN THE FUZZ
JACOB FORTUNE-LLOYD was delighted to cop a role in new crime series Bodies – but he was not so happy with his character’s facial hair.
The Queen’s Gambit actor plays detective Karl Whiteman in the thriller, which will be available from October 19 on Netflix and is set in London over four eras.
But it wasn’t the complex script, based on a graphic novel of the same name, that he struggled with – it was having to grow a moustache. Karl said: “It took a while to convince me.
“I was like, ‘I’ve got to wear this outside of work for months’.
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“We live in a moustachioed age but that pencil moustache is a serious look.
“I was sort of socially nervous.”