Olly Murs Breaks His Silence on 16-Year Rift With Twin Brother His heartbreaking confession — “I still think of him every Christmas” — has left fans in tears. A family wound that never healed… until now.
Olly Murs tại một sự kiện. Olly Murs has opened up on his heartbreaking family fallout in a rare interviewCredit: Splash
Olly Murs has given one of his most emotional interviews yet — finally opening up about the pain of a family rift that has haunted him for 16 years. The singer, now 41, revealed that his twin brother Ben still refuses to speak to him, a silence that has left their mother devastated and that continues to cast a shadow over every Christmas.
Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, Olly admitted that only now, as a father himself, does he truly understand the depth of his mum’s heartbreak.
“Now I’m a parent, I can relate more to my mum’s sadness that my twin brother and I have been estranged since 2009,” he said softly. “I’ve got nothing but love and respect for him.”
A Career Highs, But A Personal Void
His brother stopped talking to him when Olly skipp his wedding to compete in The X Factor
This year has been one of triumphs for the Dear Darlin’ hitmaker — releasing a new album, touring nationwide, and even sharing a show-stopping reunion on stage with Robbie Williams in June.
But behind the scenes of his glittering career, Olly admits the silence between him and Ben is a wound that has never healed.
The fallout dates back to 2009, when Olly chose to compete in the X Factor semi-finals rather than attend his brother’s wedding. It was the chance of a lifetime that catapulted him to fame, but it also became the decision that split the family.
“When you’ve been in the womb with someone, you struggle with loneliness,” Olly confessed. “I was desperate to be around people. I couldn’t sit in a room alone.”
Family First — This Time Around
Olly pictured on The X Factor in 2009Credit: Rex
Now married to Amelia, with a young daughter Madison and another baby on the way, Olly says his priorities have shifted.
He recalled the guilt he felt when his first child was born:
“Two days after Madison was born, I had to go on tour supporting Take That. Amelia had lots of support, but it was hard and I felt guilty. Second time round, I’m not going anywhere.”
Fatherhood, he admits, has changed the way he sees everything — especially his mum’s sadness at the family feud.
“Christmas Has Never Been The Same”
Despite years of attempts to reconcile, Olly says his brother has not responded. He sent birthday texts, only to discover Ben had changed his number.
In a 2018 interview with Lorraine Kelly, Olly was asked if he could ever imagine a reunion. His voice wavered as he admitted:
“I hope so. Every year I think about it — nine years, ten years. I texted him for his birthday but he changed his number. Christmas has never been the same.”
Ben on his wedding day in 2009Credit: Rex Features
Old photos of the brothers as toddlers show them smiling, inseparable. Olly often reflects on that bond, remembering the closeness they once shared, and the loneliness that followed when it was gone.
Love Despite the Silence
Olly and Ben were close in childhood with the singer admitting to feeling ‘lonely’ following their fall outCredit: Eastnews
Although the pain is real, Olly insists he holds no bitterness toward his twin.
“I’ve got nothing but love and respect for him,” he repeated.
Friends say the singer has matured in recent years, balancing his career with family life and developing a deeper appreciation for what really matters. Yet, whether he and Ben will ever rebuild their relationship remains uncertain.
For now, the silence continues. But Olly’s words — spoken with hope rather than anger — leave the door open for a reconciliation that fans, and especially his heartbroken mum, still dream of.
Source: The Sunday Times Magazine
