Olly Murs Reflects on Why He Initially Split From Future Wife Amelia Tank

Singer Olly Murs has opened up about the rocky beginnings of his relationship with Amelia Tank, revealing that he once “broke it off” because he was in a very dark place emotionally. Though now married and a father, that early period shaped how he viewed love and commitment (Source: Entertainment Daily).

Olly and Amelia tied the knot in July 2023, after dating for several years. They now share two children: daughter Madison, born in April of the previous year, and son Albert, who arrived in September (Source: Entertainment Daily). Despite their seemingly idyllic family life now, their early love story was anything but straightforward.

Struggles Before Meeting Amelia

In a 2022 interview, Olly was candid about how lonely and down he felt during his single years before meeting Amelia in 2019. “All the cheekiness and the fun in the years I was single, it was just a facade. I was in quite a bad place at times … I just felt really … down and lonely,” he told The Mirror (as quoted in media reports) (Source: Entertainment Daily). He admitted he didn’t like being single, and that his private life felt almost “nonexistent” — forcing him to question whether people were drawn to him “for the right reasons.”

Adding to his sense of isolation, Olly has also spoken in past interviews about the emotional impact of being estranged from his twin brother. He told Sky News that after they drifted apart, he “could not sit in a room alone,” which contributed to his desperation for connection (Source: Sky News).

Why He “Broke It Off” — and Then Came Back

Olly explained that, despite recognizing Amelia as “a right sort,” he was hesitant and noncommittal during their early dates. “To be fair, our first dates were pretty crap — even she admits that. I was very wishy-washy, very noncommittal. I was all over the place,” he said (Source: Entertainment Daily). That uncertainty led him to call things off initially.

But summer brought clarity. Olly recalled having a sudden epiphany: “I was like: ‘What am I doing, she’s f***ing perfect, she’s the one for me. Stop being an idiot!’” His realization changed everything.

By February 2020, Olly had invited Amelia to move into his Essex home. They weathered lockdown together, growing closer, and he popped the question in June 2022 on a romantic walk (Source: HELLO! Magazine, The Independent). He later joked that proposing was a little humbling — he struggled to get back up on one knee after a recent knee operation (Source: The Independent).

Life as a Dad to Two Young Children

In a recent interview, Olly reflected on his role as a father, admitting he feels “truly blessed” to have two children under the age of two. He said he’s especially grateful to have a daughter and a son. When asked whether he and Amelia plan to have more children, he teased, “Who knows? We’re happy, I’m happy … Amelia might change her mind [laughs]. Right now we’re on the same page” (Source: Entertainment Daily).

This sense of gratitude and perspective reflects how far he’s come from the lonely days of his early career.

From Turmoil to Stability

Olly’s journey — from feeling isolated and emotionally fragile to building a stable family — resonates with many. He has spoken publicly about how meeting Amelia changed his life, giving him not only love, but a purpose. Despite the doubts and inner turmoil he once carried, he now describes their relationship in deeply positive terms, calling her “the love of my life” and emphasizing their teamwork as partners (Source: Sky News, Entertainment Daily).