"Bring it on!" Olly Murs talks chart battle with Muse and celebrating a decade in music

Olly Murs is no stranger to a chart battle in the final stretch of the year.

Way back in September 2010, his debut single Please Don't Let Me Go debuted at Number 1 ahead of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, while his last four albums have all reached the top spot too, beating the likes of Michael Buble, Rihanna, One Direction and Emeli Sande in the busy Christmas run-up season. Look back at Olly's full chart history here.

This week, The singer and Voice UK coach released his part-sixth studio album, part-greatest hits collection You Know I Know, and he's locked in his biggest chart battle yet, against the mighty Muse.

While it is impressive that Olly's last four albums have all debuted at Number 1, Muse go one better, their last five have all took out a stay at the Official Albums Chart penthouse. But Olly is up for the fight.

"I like a challenge and I have never shied away from it. Q4 is always the biggest time of the year and there's always a chart battle of some sort. I love it. I used to say, 'Oh god, there's lots of big acts around', but my fans always prove me wrong and I prove myself wrong that I don't need to worry.

MORE: Olly Murs' Official Top 10 biggest songs revealed

"You could take the easier route and release it in January, but I don't do that. What's meant to be is meant to be. If I can get that fifth consecutive Number 1 album, it would be pretty awesome. Bring it on!"

Why did Olly think now was the right time to release a greatest hits? "We thought, 'What can I do that isn't naff doing a hits album? What can we do that hasn't really been done before?'. Sony really wanted to do a greatest hits, but it was a conscious decision from me to to do a new album - I believe that I can still do new music. I had some amazing ideas, and Ed [Sheeran] had got me a song. 

"We looked at the greatest hits that Robbie and Oasis had done, and HIStory by Michael Jackson, and I am so happy we have done it this way. It's not cheesy and it's a modern way of doing it. Streaming sites are so big and now just by clicking on my profile, [You Know I Know] gives fans a chance to hear songs I've done in the past and doing now."

"It felt perfect to do it on the eve of a decade in the music industry. I never expected to get to 10 years and I'm so grateful to have gotten here. Not many X Factor acts, or acts in general, get to this point. I'm really happy to finish chapter one of my career and we'll see what the next ten years brings."

The X Factor solo star with the most UK Top 40 singles? Olly Murs of course - more X Factor chart facts