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It’s been over a decade since Olly Murs last spoke to his twin brother Ben, with the X Factor star losing contact him after a family feud.
The Heart Skips a Beat singer even admitted that he had ‘no idea’ where his sibling lives, even though he’s tried to reach out on numerous occasions.
Despite being inseparable when they were younger, Murs’ appearance on the ITV series has seemingly torn the family apart.
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It began in 2009, just as the musician was finding fame on The X Factor.
Having auditioned twice already, Murs was hadn’t expected to make it as far in the singing competition as he did, and rapidly found himself approaching the semi-final.
Whilst his family encouraged him to continue, the singer found he had less time for his loved ones – including his brother Ben, who was getting married.
Murs had meant to be his best man, but The X Factor had taken over his life.
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Having already missed most of the wedding prep, Murs found himself with an impossible decision: skip out on the semi-finals or let his brother down.
The musician chose the latter and was branded a ’self-obsessed sell out’ by his brother, with the siblings no longer speaking after that.
At the time, Ben even told press that the family had been ‘torn apart’ because of the show, adding: "It was clear that people like Simon Cowell were more important to him than me”.
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The argument still haunts Murs, who admitted during an intimate moment on The Voice that he fears the next time he would see his sibling will be when they lose a loved one.
Desperate for that not to happen, he told viewers: "I miss having my twin with me... This bond as a twin, it was something I was proud about and I still am”.
However, every olive branch has seemingly not been taken.
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In fact, his brother has cut off all communication with his family, including his parents.
He even took his wife’s name after the wedding, stating that he ‘never wanted anything from Olly’ and that his family had been changed by ‘fame’.
Around the same time, Murs’ mum Vicky gave interview about family life and later claimed that the feud had left her too sick to work, as she’d experienced MS like symptoms, although family feuds aren't thought to be directly related to MS.
She also claimed that Ben had had ‘learning difficulties’ as a child, with her son reacting angrily afterwards.
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"My parents wanted this bright, shiny Olly with the money who can give them the VIP lifestyle. They liked hanging around with Simon Cowell or going to Bon Jovi concerts – they loved their VIP selfies” he explained as he spoke to press.
He continued: "I'm not interested in anything like that, I have a lovely life with my wife and kids. I've worked hard, been to university and got a degree, I've never wanted anything from Olly”.
As Murs plans his own nuptials, the family seems unable to heal.
The Troublemaker singer even told The Sunday Times that he’d had tried to make peace with his brother in 2013, but his sibling had changed his phone number.
"I wish him all the best. But I've got my life and he's got his. The last time I made contact I got the door slammed in my face," he told the Sunday Times.
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, Music
Katherine Sidnell