Olly Murs struggled to keep it together as he sang Sweet Caroline for Caroline Flack at his London gig (Picture: Getty)
It was an emotional night for Olly Murs on Saturday as he dedicated a song to his late friend Caroline Flack.
The 2009 X Factor star, 38, performed to a packed O2 Arena in London on April 29 as part of his Marry Me Tour, delighting thousands of fans with his biggest hits.
And while the party was well and truly rocking, one moment in particular proved too much for the singer.
Ahead of covering Neil Diamond’s 1969 hit Sweet Caroline, Olly told the 20,000-strong audience that losing Flack was one of the ‘toughest’ things he’s been through.
His Xtra Factor co-host died in February 2020 after taking her own life, aged 40.
Breaking down in tears on stage, the Troublemaker vocalist urged his fans to reach out to anyone struggling, as he has regrets about ‘not being there’ for Flack.
Olly displayed photos of the late TV star on the screen as he sang a piano rendition of the tune, as the crowd lit up the venue with flashlights.
He crouched down and rubbed his eyes when the song finished, overwhelmed with emotion.
As per MailOnline, Olly said: ‘Like I said earlier, it’s been an incredible four or five years and I know it’s been a really tough, crazy four or five years for every single one of you in this room and it’s going to be hard for me to do this but, in 2020, I lost a very good friend of mine, someone that I love very, very much.
‘Her name is Caroline Flack and it is one of the toughest things that has happened in my life and it is really sad to see someone so amazing leave us, but she has never left and she is always in my heart.
‘And I really didn’t know what I could go through, that whole process for me was so difficult, and I had never been through anything like that before, and so many questions that I wanted answered and I am never, ever going to get them answers, but how I deal with that grief and something I always wanted to do and at every gig that I do for the rest of my career, I am always going to dedicate a song to Caroline.’
Olly vowed to dedicate a song to the late presenter at every show (Picture: PA)
Flack died by suicide in 2020 (Picture: Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)
The Essex star continued: ‘I just want to say, for anyone in the room that is struggling right now or anyone you know is struggling then please give them a call because I really wish that I had been there for Caz.
‘I wish that she had called me. I didn’t know how bad it was and if you know someone, please give them a call.
‘But this one is my favourite song. It is my version of it. Ladies and Ggntlemen, this is Sweet Caroline.’
One adoring fan then threw a packet of tissues on stage for Olly as he wept.
Taking to Twitter to praise the Heart Skips A Beat hitmaker after the show, fans hailed his tribute ‘incredible.’
‘An incredible tribute to Caroline Flack in the show, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room’, one person wrote.
Olly has regrets about ‘not being there’ for his friend (Picture: Danny Martindale/FilmMagic)
He says her death was one of the ‘toughest’ things he’s been through (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Another wrote: ‘Shoutout to @ollymurs for holding it together during his tribute to beautiful Caroline Flack last night because I did not. Sobbed for a solid 10 minutes after. She is so loved and missed.’
One fan wrote: ‘Olly Murs sung Sweet Caroline as a dedication to Caroline Flack and it broke me. Such a lovely tribute.’
Olly – who will perform at the Coronation Concert this May – has spoken openly about his grief since Flack died.
Just a couple of months ago, he marked the third anniversary of her death with an Instagram picture of the two of them.
‘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 💔’, he wrote on February 19.
He’s also previously said that he did try to meet up with her before she died.
Speaking on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast, the star recalled how, despite being extremely close, it became difficult to find time to hang out in the later years of their friendship.
‘Caz was always the life and soul of the party,’ he said. ‘She’s dancing, she’s getting the drinks, she’s having fun.’
Meanwhile Olly, as a pop star travelling the world, would take any free time to ‘go to bed and relax and sleep.’
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He and Flack arranged to see each other in 2019, but she cancelled last minute due to ‘not feeling great.’
Olly insisted it ‘didn’t bother him’ but he ‘never got chance’ to see her before she died.
‘I always think back to that moment,’ he said.
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: [email protected] between the hours of 9am and midnight.
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He vowed to dedicate a song to her at every gig ‘for the rest of my career.’
