Olly Murs was offered huge fee to return as X Factor judge – before being ousted by Robbie Williams (Details)

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Simon Cowell offered Olly Murs £3million to be an X Factor judge but dropped him when Robbie Williams agreed to join the show.

Olly, 34, had accepted a return if he could also remain on rival contest The Voice.

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Olly was in talks for a job on the panel


But Robbie and his wife Ayda Field then agreed to join Simon as judges, meaning the fourth needed to be female.

He has just days to fill the last spot on his panel.

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Robbie’s involvement in the singing contest could lend it a much-needed ratings boost


An X Factor source said: “We’re all huge fans of Olly’s, but Robbie is one of the biggest stars in the world.

“When the opportunity came for him to join, we couldn’t pass it up.”

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Olly appeared on the show as a contestant with Stacey Solomon and Joe Mcelderry in 2009


Simon axed ex-contestant Olly as a host on ITV’s show in 2015, but was so keen for him to return as a judge that he offered him the huge fee.

An insider said: “Olly said he’d do X Factor on the condition he could stay on The Voice, which he loves.”

© Trinity Mirror Shared Services Limited
In 2015 Olly joined the new line-up of the X Factor, which lasted just one year


Though Voice bosses made it clear he would be dropped if he did, fearing viewers would tire of him.

But then Robbie joined Simon. Voice chiefs were said to be “high-fiving” at Olly staying.

X Factor’s London auditions begin on July 18.

Related: Olly Murs sings Tina Turner ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ in concert

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