Olly Murs, Genting Arena, Birmingham - review

The 32-year-old singer whipped up the 90 per cent female audience by announcing that he was 'feeling frisky' and, to roars of delight, was in bum-wiggling form. Should one expect anything less from the 'rear of the year' title holder for 2015? What the 2009 X Factor runner-up also has is a strong work ethic and staying power, as shown by five albums in six years, providing eight top ten hits.

Looking dapper in a dark suit, he kicked off his concert with one of his more recent hits, You Don't Know Love, from last year's 24 Hrs album which gives the tour its title. Then came the 'Up' hits, Wrapped Up, Grow Up and Up, that latter with one of his backing singers standing in for Demi Lovato on the country-tinged pop gem.

It soon became apparent Olly wears his adulation lightly, with lots of self-deprecating banter between songs. Unlike some of his contemporaries is was clear that he was singing every single note (yes, we're mean Bieber), even when strutting the T-shaped catwalk in front of the stage and throwing down some nifty dance moves, often joined by his posse of four backing singers.

He varied the pace with some heartfelt ballads, including Flaws and I Need You Now, and encouraged an audience singalong when he merged his song Back Around with a version of Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It. He also got them to sing part of Take That song Never Forget to feature on the weekend's Saturday Night Takeaway TV show.

The gig went up a gear with his funky pop chart-topper Heart Skips A Beat and, probably his most enduring and memorable song, Dear Darlin'.

Then the pop star/TV presenter urged his fans to put their phones away and dance, dance, dance to a ten minute mash-up of dancefloor classics which also showed the prowess of his seven-piece band. The medley included Olly's versions of That's The Way I Like It, Never Too Much, She's Got That Vibe, Jump Around and U Can't Touch This, as the irrepressible entertainer went on a romp around the arena, high-fiving fans before making it back to the stage for a solid version of Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop The Feeling.

The spectacular concert, which came complete with fireworks, clouds of dry ice, laser beams and giant screens, came to a crescendo with his biggest hits, Troublemaker and Dance With Me Tonight, before a satisfying encore of Kiss Me and, after thanking his fans for 'getting me out of the call centre', he dedicated final song Years & Years to his audience.

Nice one Olly.

By Leon Burakowski