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THE Voice's Olly Murs has admitted that he's been pestering his co-star Jennifer Hudson by sending her drunk texts - but claims he's NOT trying to pull the newly single star.

The singer says he's had to apologise for the late-night messages to his fellow judge on the show, which he sends after he's had a few drinks on a night out.

 She joined returning judges, from left, Sir Tom Jones, Will.I.Am, Jennifer Hudson and Olly Murs
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She joined returning judges, from left, Sir Tom Jones, Will.I.Am, Jennifer Hudson and Olly MursCredit: Splash News

"It's good to see everyone, it's good to seen Jen and apologise for all my drunken messages I send her on a regular basis," Olly told The Sun Online at the launch of ITV's The Voice 2018.

"Every time I go out, it's weird because when you start working with artists, you start hearing their songs all the time. So I'll be out in Essex or on holiday and I hear a Jennifer Hudson song I'll be like, 'Jennifer how ya doing?'"

Adding that he's not trying to pull newly single Jennifer, he says: "I'm just sending messages to Jen when I'm drunk, singing her song. It's very funny.

"Bless her, I think she thinks I'm mad. It's good banter."

 The Voice is returning on ITV in January
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The Voice is returning on ITV in JanuaryCredit: ©ITV Plc

Even if Olly was trying to chat up his co-star, it doesn't sound like the US singer would be interested. Jennifer split with fiance David Ortunga last year after ten years together, and says she's not interested in dating again.

"I don’t want no man at all. No sir. I’m woman enough by myself," she laughs.

Jennifer has won the show once - with Mo Adeniran - and is very confident she can win this series too.

"I’m trying, but it’s not easy to take the crown off Tom. I know that but I’m gonna try," she tells us.

 Sir Tom spoke for the first time since he had to cancel a number of tour dates in the summer after suffering a viral infection
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Sir Tom spoke for the first time since he had to cancel a number of tour dates in the summer after suffering a viral infectionCredit: Rex Features

"I think Team J Hud is shaping up extremely well this year though, and I’m in a good place. "I think the talent is exceptionally great this year. So I’m building a very very strong team. I think I can win it."

Despite winning the show in 2017, Mo hasn't had the success of previous talent show winners - but Jennifer claims that's not his fault.

"It’s just that it’s a difficult time for music. But it’s not just about the platform you’re given, it’s also about working it," she says.

"And it takes more than just the singing, you just have to be that machine behind it. As long as he has his instrument he can keep going. He had the right platform. Just because it didn’t work out here does not mean it’s not gonna work out."

 Olly was feeling just as fruity and full of life when he revealed he drunk texts Spotlight singer J-Hud
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Olly was feeling just as fruity and full of life when he revealed he drunk texts Spotlight singer J-HudCredit: Rex Features

Last year's winner, Sir Tom Jones, also defended HIS winner's lack of chart success, saying that Ruti XX is still working on her album almost a year after winning the show.

"She hasn’t come out with anything yet. She is writing and recording. She is writing with two other men. She’s got quite a few songs and hopefully they will get the album ready before Christmas," he says.

"She’s a great singer and it’s really good because I thought she was a great singer right from the blind auditions and all the way through and right up until we did the duet together in the final.

"Thank god everyone else felt the same way about her. That’s the gratifying thing. When you really believe in somebody and the public also believe. Without them it’s no good. You may think someone’s great but if the public don’t agree then it doesn’t work. But they did! And she won."

 J-Hud insisted she was not looking for a man following her break up from David Otunga almost a year ago
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J-Hud insisted she was not looking for a man following her break up from David Otunga almost a year agoCredit: Splash News

Sir Tom also spoke for the first time since he was forced to cancel tour dates in the summer after suffering a viral infection.

He says: “I had a virus. I had a viral infection. It wasn’t long but I had to go in to get it checked out.

“I was on the road on tour and when we got to London all of a sudden I wasn’t feeling so good and they said, ‘You had better get yourself checked out. Check your blood and everything’.

“So I was only in hospital for three or four days and they checked everything out and said it was a viral infection. It wasn’t scary.

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“I just didn’t feel good. I was feeling weak and they said I’d picked up a viral infection and they said you need some antibiotics. So they gave it to me intravenously and that was it.

“It was no big deal. If it had happened at another time then nobody would have taken any notice of it. I would have gone in for a couple of days and that would have been it. But I was doing shows and I had to cancel shows. So that was a big deal.”

He added: “I feel as strong as ever. I don’t feel any different. I’m just an older version of what I was 40 years ago.”

It's not just Sir Tom who's got his health on his mind, though - Will.I.Am showed off his trim look after losing weight from a vegan diet.

 Also sporting a dark number was Will who showed off his trim look after losing weight from a vegan diet
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Also sporting a dark number was Will who showed off his trim look after losing weight from a vegan dietCredit: Splash News

The Black Eyed Peas rapper revealed he’s decided he'll live for another forty years after going meat and dairy free.

He said: “Vegan diet's doing great — I've got 40 more years. Then I have some fish and then there'll be no more fish.

“I've got ten more pounds to go. Then I'll be at my goal.”

And he made a call for former collaborator Cheryl to join him on the band’s album they’ll record next year.

It comes ahead of their return album Masters of the Sun later this month which she will not be featuring on.

Will said: "Not on this album, but the next album. With Cheryl hopefully, yeah. Put it out there. I want to get Cheryl on this album."


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