Television talent shows such as Pop Idol and The X Factor have a reassuring track record for launching the careers of the less obvious. In shows where the focus is all on winning, it is amazing how frequently the winners or fans' favourites end up playing second fiddle. Not that blockheaded A&R Caesar Simon Cowell cares one way or the other; they're all securely chained up in his stable.

A quick glance through the roster of winners and runners-up quickly confirms that odds-on bet Gareth Gates was eventually toppled by Will Young (Pop Idol), that Hear'Say were soon usurped by the all-conquering Girls Aloud (Popstars) and that the perennial plucky runner-up Darius Danesh has never been short of work. Olly Murs is another case in point. While the winner of the sixth series of The X Factor (Joe McElderry) continues to plough the talent show furrow and open Lidls, runner-up Olly is busy beating the pop world into reluctant submission.

Three No 1 singles, a chart-topping album (last year's In Case You Didn't Know) and a still-packed live schedule three years after he appeared on the show are testament to Murs' enduring appeal and, it would seem, genuine pop star credentials.

The tour kicks off in Sheffield on 2nd March 2013, following by Brighton, London, Birmingham, Liverpool and more, before the final date at The O2 in Greenwich on 29th March. There is another London date, at Wembley Arena, on 10th March. We will have tickets when they go on sale at 9am on Friday 20th April, priced around £32.50.

Ahead of the 2013 dates, Olly Murs has another busy summer of appearances (see below) including Love Luton 2012, Sound Island Music Festival 2012 and many more. We've a whole range of tickets available now, including Sound Island, where Olly shares the bill with Rizzle Kicks.