Olly Murs believes ‘The X Factor’ could do with "a little break" for a "couple of years".
The ‘Wrapped Up’ hitmaker shot to fame after coming second on the 2009 series of the ITV talent show and is now a coach on rival series ‘The Voice’.
Olly thinks it would be a good idea for boss Simon Cowell to give fans of the show the chance to "replenish their eyes and ears and refocus", before bringing ‘The X Factor’ back with a "massive bang".
He told The Sun Online: "I’m still on the fence on the pure basis I love the show because I came from it, so of course I want to watch it on TV.
"But at the same time, maybe the show does need a little break just for people to replenish their eyes and ears and refocus.
"The show can come back with a massive bang in a couple of years time, but that’s not up to me – it’s up to Simon and ‘The X Factor’ to make that decision."
The 35-year-old singer – who was also the co-host of ‘The X Factor’ in 2015, alongside Caroline Flack, and previously a presenter on sister show ‘The Xtra Factor’ between 2011 and 2012 – insisted that: "It’s still a show I hold dear to my heart because it made me who I am."
The ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ hitmaker isn’t the only former contestant who thinks the show should go on hiatus.
Matt Cardle, who triumphed on the ITV talent show, beating One Direction to the crown in 2010, also thinks Simon would be best to give people a break from the programme to allow them to "miss it".
He said recently: "It seems like they’re wrapping it up, if you ask me. It’s one of those things.
"Maybe give it a rest for a while. I say, if you eat spaghetti bolognese every night, you’re going to get sick of it.
"If you do ‘The X Factor’ every year, it’s going to run its course.
"Maybe give it a rest for a couple of years, and then bring it back. Give people a chance to miss it."
This year, Simon had ‘Celebrity X Factor’ and ‘X Factor: The Band’ air in place of the usual format, and while Matt wished him "luck" with those series, he said he believes the long-running show has "waned" because it’s been on television for so long.
He added: "Because it is a great show, and it’s done great things for people, myself included.
"And, you know, it obviously works very, very well.
"But if you constantly do things over and over and over and over, every year, there will come a time when it starts to wane.
"And clearly it’s waned. Good luck with the new version."
In July, it was claimed Simon was on the cusp of inking a deal that’ll see both ‘The X Factor’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ remain on air until 2022.
Olly Murs thinks The X Factor needs ‘a little break’
