POP idol Olly Murs is today telling fans how much he is looking forward to playing live in Kings Park on August 5.

Up to 10,000 fans are expected to see Olly, whose latest album 24 Hrs was his fourth consecutive number one hit.

The popular singer-songwriter is one of British music’s biggest stars with record sales exceeding 10 million and demand for Kings Park tickets has been high.

He said: “I’m delighted to be coming down to Bournemouth. I’ve been here many times in the past for tours and various different things. It’s a lovely place here on the south coast. I’m really looking forward to it.

“I love the beach; I’ve been here before in the past partying, it’s a great town.”

Olly, who played a sold-out arena show at the BIC this week, added that he loved playing festival-style outdoor concerts.

“Outside gigs are different because families can come, they bring their kids and it’ll be a lovely sunny night – I think.

“Bournemouth – what a great place to come for a weekend anyway for families. All the caravan sites and the beaches; the nightlife here, it’s a brilliant place for a gig at the weekend.

“I’m thankful to be doing it. As a gig it’s very different to an arena. In the arena people sit down and watch it; at an outdoor festival people are livelier – it’ll be a fantastic day out for the family.”

Olly also revealed what sort of show he will be putting on for fans in Kings Park.

“High energy excitement, I think a real fun entertaining show. I don’t think I’ve ever done a show that’s sad or there’s no energy or it’s flat. The kind of show I do, it doesn’t matter who you are you’ll come and have a great time.

“These are fun gigs, ones I wanted to do. I had options to go to different parts of the world and do different things and I just felt that I hadn’t done a summer tour of the UK for quite some time – the last being in 2013.

“So it’s been four years since I’ve done a summer tour. And as an artist you do all the arenas but not everyone wants to go to an arena; not everyone can make it.

“So I wanted to go around the country. Hopefully all the fans will come along. I hope, hope, that I’ll put on a fantastic show.

Olly, whose special guest will be 2015 X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, added: “I think Louisa’s got incredible potential to be a huge star. She’s only been out for a year or so; she’s young and an incredible singer.

“I worked with her on the X Factor when I was presenting the show. And she’s an incredible talent with her first album coming out.

“I’m really chuffed that she’s going to be my special guest/support act on the show. Fans will get to see how incredible she is as well.”

Football fan Olly, whose Kings Park gig will be just yards from the Vitality Stadium home of AFC Bournemouth, revealed that he also comes to town to see games.

“I came up and watched Manchester United against Bournemouth last August. Jeff Mostyn, the Bournemouth chairman, invited me up. It was so nice to watch the game.

“When I came down in the summer Bournemouth were fantastic; the atmosphere, the fans, the club, the way the club’s run by Jeff and the guys. They were very lovely.

“They have a great manager in Eddie Howe and I think they play great football. They’ll always concede goals but I think they’ll always score goals.

“It’s never a boring game watching Bournemouth, I’ve got to say. It’s always a good game of football to watch.

“When I’m down for the gig this August, hopefully if there’s a pre-season game on I can go and watch.”

Olly also said his first memory of Bournemouth was when his uncle played for non-league Heybridge who played Bournemouth in the FA Cup

“My uncle has a Match of the Day video of him falling over in font of someone when Bournemouth scored. He made Match of the Day which was amazing.

“I’ve also been to Bournemouth a few times on nights out with my mates. I can’t remember them days too much – it was a long time ago!”

Entry tickets for Kings Park are £39.50 with Gold Circle tickets at £55, both subject to a booking fee. To book tickets go to http://ollyinthepark.co.uk For hospitality bookings call 01202 255161.

Picture caption:

KINGS PARK DATE: Olly Murs