‘I’m trying to keep smiling’: Olly Murs opens up about his mental health struggles in lockdown

Olly Murs has discussed the mental health struggles he has been experiencing during the third UK lockdown, revealing he’s had some ‘really really bad days.’  

The singer, 36, explained his girlfriend Amelia Tank, 27, has been the one ‘picking [him] back up’ and said he’s ‘trying to keep smiling.’

Speaking on Friday’s episode of This Morning, the former X Factor contestant revealed: ‘I’ve just felt not myself.’ 

‘I’ve had some really really bad days’: Olly Murs told This Morning on Friday his girlfriend Amelia has been helping him get through lockdown mental health struggles

10million people ‘face mental health crisis in wake of Covid’

Up to 10million people could need mental health support in the wake of the pandemic, a report warned before Britain’s second wave of coronavirus.

Experts said around 8.5million adults and 1.5million children in England will likely need help to deal with the fallout from coronavirus, including losing loved ones and jobs.

They will mostly need help for depression and anxiety, according to analysis from the Centre for Mental Health, which consulted experts from the NHS.

But others – including NHS workers – could develop conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), more commonly associated with service personnel following armed conflicts.

Over video call from his home in Essex, the singer explained: ‘This lockdown has probably been the hardest one for me, 

‘I felt last year I kind of felt a bit OK but this year, this time around, its been really really tough,   

‘I’ve had some really really bad days and not felt myself at all, 

‘Especially the last month, I’ve just felt not myself,’ said the Dance with Me Tonight hitmaker. 

Olly told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford:  ‘I’ve not felt that energy that I’ve got my mojo back… Amelia has been the one that’s been picking me back up, 

‘Normally I’m the one picking her up sometimes… its good to have that help around you and different people to pick you up at different times of day.’

He continued: ‘It’s been hard but, you know, I’m trying to keep smiling and keep positive.’

Olly’s bodybuilder girlfriend moved in with him during the first national lockdown. A whirlwind romance, the pair first became Instagram official on New Year’s Day in 2020. 

In October, Olly admitted he fears his relationship with Amelia could come under strain when he heads off on tour following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The singer, who plans to go back on tour at some point this year, said the distance between him and Amelia could come as ‘a shock.’ 

Support system: Olly's girlfriend Amelia Tank has been the person picking him back up when he's down (pictured together this month)

Support system: Olly’s girlfriend Amelia Tank has been the person picking him back up when he’s down (pictured together this month) 

Strain? Olly admitted he fears his relationship with his girlfriend Amelia could face problems when he heads off on tour following the COVID-19 pandemic

Strain? Olly admitted he fears his relationship with his girlfriend Amelia could face problems when he heads off on tour following the COVID-19 pandemic

Olly – who also revealed he’s heading back to the recording studio to work on new music – told The Sun: ‘Amelia says she can’t wait for me to go out to work. 

‘But it’ll be a shock for us from a relationship perspective because she’s only known me to be at home, really, all the time…

‘If I’m going back on the road, getting back to work, TV work and stuff, it’s going to be crazy again and I don’t know what that will be like for us.’

Olly also praised his girlfriend for maintaining her independence after they moved in together in lockdown, as she insisted on paying her share of the bills. 

The couple have kept fans updated on their stay-at-home antics, which has included playing hilarious pranks on each other.

In June, The Voice UK judge revealed he was already planning on marrying Amelia, saying on Sky’s Harry’s Home Fixtures: ‘Listen, if, when, I’m sure I’ll marry Amelia, when I get married all you guys are invited. 100 per cent.’ 

Change in dynamic: 'It'll be a shock for us from a relationship perspective because she's only known me to be at home, really, all the time,' he said

Change in dynamic: ‘It’ll be a shock for us from a relationship perspective because she’s only known me to be at home, really, all the time,’ he said

It’s been a particuarly tough time for Olly, who lost his good friend Caroline Flack a year ago. 

An emotional first look trailer for Caroline Flack: Her Life and Death has been released by Channel 4 one year after her tragic passing. 

The 40-second clip sees the late Love Island host, Caroline, who was found dead on February 15, 2020 at the age of 40, break down in tears in previously unseen footage. 

The heartbreaking first look trailer also sees emotional interviews from Caroline’s mother Christine, her twin sister Jody and her former X Factor co-host Olly Murs. 

In what is sure to be emotional viewing, the late presenter breaks down in tears as she says: ‘The only person I’ve ever hurt is myself.’ 

During the poignant trailer, the late presenter’s former The X Factor co-host Olly breaks down in tears. 

He says: ‘I just wish I could have told her not to do it. I never got the opportunity to do that.’ 

Emotional: It's been a tough time for Olly, who lost his good friend Caroline Flack a year ago - he appears in the trailer for a new documentary called Caroline Flack : Her Life and Death

Emotional: It’s been a tough time for Olly, who lost his good friend Caroline Flack a year ago – he appears in the trailer for a new documentary called Caroline Flack : Her Life and Death