X Factor idol Olly Murs wins over crowds wherever he goes in the world.

One of his best mates, Kirk Setford, said Olly had revellers eating out of the palm of his hand when he showed off dance moves while on a stag do in Amsterdam, in April.

Olly, who consistently impresses on this year’s X Factor, told the Witham Times last week how he has honed his dance moves in Elements in Newland Street.

“There’s been a few nights in Elements and when we went on a stag do in Amsterdam he had the DJ trying to outdo him by playing different songs,” said Kirk, who met Olly about five years ago when they both played football for Howbridge Swifts, in the Braintree Sunday League.

“Every song the DJ played Olly did a different dance and everyone was loving it,” Kirk said.

“It looks like he is maybe playing up to the cameras on the show but he isn’t, he is the life and soul of the party, just an entertainer.”

Kirk, who lives in Witham and runs his own carpentry firm, said 25-year-old Olly is behind twins and rival contestants John and Edward.

The controversial pair regularly come under fire for their performances and Kirk revealed: “Olly said they are nice lads and they work really hard.”

Kirk, who was in the audience a fortnight ago, said the booing of the Irish twins is “harsh” but a “bit pantomime”.

The 27-year-old who played centre midfield with Olly ahead of him as a striker, said: “It’s been fantastic. Olly gets more and more confident but it’s confident rather than cocky - he is still massively himself and has not changed one little bit.”

• Support Olly by tuning into the X Factor from 8pm on Saturday.