Olly Murs has admitted that he is concerned about coming face to face with new X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger this yera as he may have been a bit overly enthusiastic when their paths first crossed.

The former contestant of the ITV show was presenting the Xtra Factor last year, when he got the chance to interview the smoking hot singer. He greeted her with a hug that may have lasted just a tad too long and Olly told The Sun:

“She’s gorgeous. I remember hugging her for like the longest hug ever last year. I’m worried about meeting her because maybe she thinks I’m some stalker. She came on The Xtra Factor and I gave her this 50-second hug. She was like, ‘What is this guy doing?’ So I’m obviously a bit worried about meeting her again.”

Perhaps Nicole could use Olly’s amorous attention to advantage, after reports that her boyfriend Lewis Hamilton was getting up to all sorts of no good with models and beauties in his hotel room this month.

Murs finished second in the 2009 series of The X Factor and went on to land a presenting role on spinoff show The Xtra Factor last year. He was forced to miss the audition stages in 2012, after he was asked to support One Direction during their headline American tour.

However he will be back with Caroline Flack for the upcoming judge’s houses stage and admitted that he can’t wait to be reunited with his partner in crime, saying:

“I’ve messaged her and she’s having a great time at boot camp. I don’t think she even misses me. I hope she has missed me a little bit. I’m looking forward to coming back. I’ve missed the show. I spoke to her the other night and I’ve really missed being a part of it.”

Murs also admitted that he thinks this year’s lineup is inspired and expects great things from the panel when the series starts next month. He continued:

“I think Nicole’s going to be brilliant. The whole panel will be great. Tulisa and Gary have both had that first year now — I think they’re going to be a lot more ruthless this year. There was some sort of criticism [of Scherzinger as an 'X Factor' U.S. judge] but I think the reception she’s getting here in the U.K., from what Caroline’s been telling me, has been brilliant.”

ITV revealed four new promos for this year’s series of The X Factor yesterday, featuring four of the show’s former stars JLS, One Direction, Leona Lewis and Olly himself.

You can watch the clips here.

Are you excited about the show’s return and are you glad Olly will be back? Leave your comments below…