Olly Murs cried on The Voice during an emotional performance by a suicide prevention worker.
Olly and Caroline Flack worked together on The X Factor's spin-off show, The Xtra Factor, before stepping up to present the main show together in 2015. While Olly didn't discuss Caroline by name, he opened up about losing a "good friend" to suicide and has spoken on the impact of her death in the past.
And he admitted on Saturday’s episode of the ITV singing competition that he had not dealt with “a lot of stuff” after losing a close friend. Love Island presenter Flack, who would have turned 44 on Thursday, November 9, took her own life at the age of 40 on February 15, 2020.
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Contestant Sheridan Coldstream performed Listen Before I Go by Billie Eilish which referenced suicide in the lyrics. After singing, Sheridan, 59 – also a vocal and confidence coach and TikTok star – spoke about his work on a suicide prevention helpline.
Appearing to break down and become emotional, Olly said: “I lost a good friend to suicide… a few years back so it’s mad actually that you’ve walked into my life… although I’m supposed to be coaching you… (I think) you’ll be coaching me.”
Olly then gave Sheridan a hug and the 39-year-old singer told his fellow judges that the moment “really hit me”. He explained: “There’s a lot of stuff that I haven’t dealt with that I need to talk about…. (Sheridan) walked into my life, maybe I need that.”
Since Caroline’s death, Olly is part of a group of her close friends and family who raised almost £30,000 for Samaritans by doing a charity trek in 2021. He has also sang at the Flackstock festival, which raises funds for mental health charities, in her name and memory.
And he marked her anniversary this year on his Instagram with a gorgeous black and white photograph of the friends smiling together. In the post Olly told how he misses his pal while saying it was the "hardest day of the year" after "three years of pain" following her death.
He messaged: "Hardest day of the year 3 years of pain that never goes away but that smile and laughter I can still see and hear everyday! Miss ya Caz."
Speaking to the Daily Star, the Troublemaker singer said last February: "God bless Caroline. I miss her every day and I think about her every day. I think about what I could have done to change things, what I could have said.
"There are all sorts of questions I ask myself every day. It's always difficult. But there’s nothing I can do to bring her back. All I can do is keep living and keep her in my thoughts."
The Voice UK airs on ITV1, ITVX and STV.
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