WITHAM's Olly Murs will join Caroline Flack to present The X Factor, show supremo Simon Cowell has confirmed.

The pair, who previously co-hosted ITV2 spin-off show The Xtra Factor, will succeed former Colchester schoolboy Dermot O'Leary, who left after eight years.

Cowell said: "I am absolutely delighted Caroline and Olly are both returning to The X Factor. When they were on Xtra together, they were a brilliant double act. Since then, Caroline's gone from strength to strength - and Olly has become one of Britain's biggest stars. So now I'm looking forward to them fronting the main show."

Murs, whose chart career was launched after he was runner-up on the 2009 series, said he was "proud" to be coming back to the ITV show.

He said: "I love the show and it kick-started my career in music which has given me the opportunity to do what I love. I already have the best job in the world and it's about to get better - I can't wait to get started and be part of finding some amazing new talent."

Flack, who won last year's Strictly Come Dancing, said she was "beyond excited" about the news."

Dermot O'Leary tweeted: "Huge congrats to @ollyofficial and @carolineflack1 be gentle with the old girl ... that's the show, not Louis."