We sit down with our Heart Bingo Brand Ambassador, Olly Murs, to discuss playing bingo with his grandparents and much more!
Olly Murs shares stories about playing bingo with his grandparents and which superpower he would most like to have
Do you play any bingo?
Olly: Yeah. That is actually the reason I actually got involved with Heart Bingo. Heart is a great radio station. I love Heart. Obviously, I have been a guest presenter on a Heart Radio segment before so I have a connection with Heart.
When I was 25, I used to work in recruitment. I was concerned I was not spending enough time with my Grandparents. I asked what their hobbies were, what do they get up to. They mentioned they like to play bingo every Wednesday.
I decided I would take a Wednesday off every month to play bingo with my grandparents. I absolutely loved it. We would go and sit in these little bingo halls and I would just watch my Nan and granddad sit there for hours, getting so excited and chatting with all their friends. It might sound strange, but bingo brings up some sentimental feelings for me.
When this opportunity came up, it was a no brainer. I love bingo. I love Heart. Let’s do it.
If you could be any superhero or have any superpower, who would you be or what would you do?
If I could be any superhero in the world ever. I think Wolverine is super cool. I liked his attitude.
As the anti-hero bad boy, he was not always the nicest to people. But there was a good heart in there and he always made the right choices in the end. I also like the claws. And Hugh Jackman. Who does not like Hugh Jackman? He is a good-looking man.
But if I could have a superpower, mine would be teleporting. I hate the whole process of getting on planes to travel and there is so much of the world to see. So I think I would like to have superpowers to get to places instantly.
Olly Murs talks about dealing with trolls on social media, mental health and dealing with fame
You are quite active on social media. You have millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram and twitter. You have also gone viral a couple of times. How do you deal with trolls or any criticisms?
Olly: You know what? It is all about looking in the mirror and saying to yourself, I am happy with the person I am. And I know that I am not nasty. I am not horrible to people. I am a good person. I have got good morals. I have got a great family.
I am comfortable with my own skin. For anyone who writes negative things about me or anyone on the internet, that is on you, not on me.
I know who I am and that not everyone is going to like me. Not everyone is going to love me. Not everyone is going to like my music. I accept that. It is important to realize that it is impossible for everyone to like you. It’s part of life.
Whenever I have had any negative things said about me or things that I have not been happy with. I just think, if I could spend five minutes with them and had a conversation with them, I think they would realise we would actually get on.
It took me years for me to accept that because I have always wanted to be nice to everyone and I had always wanted them to like me.
When I first started out, it was difficult to adjust to. Other artists or people in the industry would make comments and tweet things about me or my music. Rather than sinking to their level, I thought I’m not going to say anything. I’m going to stay silent until I would see them face to face. On a few occasions, I’d get to confront them. I would be calm about everything “Alright, mate. Thanks for the tweet you sent last week. Appreciate that.” Sometimes we’d be able to laugh it off and smooth things over.
I just think before you tweet something negative about someone, try and meet the person first to form a proper opinion.
Yeah, see the person. And not the persona or music they are making or what other people are saying.
Exactly.
Talking about fame and becoming a celebrity itself. I deal with it just fine, but not everyone does. You never get taught anything. You do not go to class and there is no handbook. You have no idea what it entails. You just have to learn on the job.
You seem to be a never-ending source of joy and energy. How do you do it?
Olly: I honestly do not know. I’m lucky. I have a good family and support system.
It is just a part of my personality. I love living a positive life. I simply feel good when I’m being nice to people. I’m just nice and respectful to people. It sounds cliché but it does not cost anything to be nice and polite to people.
That is what my parents always taught me, to be respectful to everyone. There have been times in my life which have been difficult. Whenever I’m in a negative situation, I just try and focus on that one positive thing which makes me happy.
Some people are not able to do that. Which is fair enough, as I said, I have been lucky in my life. Even the moments in my life, and there have been a few, I focus on the good.
With Caroline Flack’s passing, for example, it was such a traumatic experience. It was and still is hard to deal with. She was a good friend and she’ll be a part of my life forever.
But I try not focus on the sadness and just focus on the positives. I believe Caroline is in better place now. I choose to focus on the memories of our friendship and that I am glad I got to know her.
I do not want to spend too much time focusing on the negatives. I have just lived my life like that since I was a young kid. It is how I have built my career really. I want people to be happy and I want to make them laugh.
You had a hit with Troublemaker. Are you, yourself, a troublemaker? What is the biggest trouble you’ve been in as a kid or an adult?
Olly: Honestly, I never got in any trouble as a kid ever.
I am more cheeky than troublesome. I would say things, but I would always get away with it because the teachers liked me or my bosses would like me. I’d get away with silly things, but I’d never been involved in anything scandalous or illegal.
Fans of Olly can read our previous interview with Olly.
