With an excellent job, a loving spouse and two much-loved youngsters, to not point out the assist of shut household simply down the street, you would possibly assume Ben Hart has every little thing he desires in life.
By all accounts, the 32-year-old has completed nicely, flying as soon as per week to work in Holland as a revered engineer earlier than returning house to a cushty three- storey residence within the riverside village of Woodham Ferrers in Essex.
But there isn't a home peace of thoughts for Ben, no cosy sense that each one's nicely with the world, regardless of greater than a decade of onerous work and achievement.
Olly Murs, left, and his twin brother, Ben, proper along with his spouse, have been as soon as joined on the hip
Removed from it. And the clue is in his identify.
For the person who calls himself Ben Hart was as soon as identified to the world as Ben Murs, the inseparable twin brother of singer and TV presenter Olly – however who's as we speak finest referred to as the 'different' half of essentially the most poignant rift in British showbusiness.
They haven't spoken for seven years.
As he explains as we speak, Ben is totally estranged not simply from his well-known twin, but in addition from his mother and father and sister, who've sided with Olly.
Final week their feud hit new and sudden depths. Seemingly to advertise Olly's new UK tour, the twins' mom gave an interview which included devastating private particulars of Ben's childhood, revealed that for all his skilled accomplishments since, he grew up with studying difficulties and, most critically, claimed that he had damaged her coronary heart so badly she fell in poor health, believing at one level she had a number of sclerosis.
'My mother and father needed this vibrant, shiny Olly with the cash who may give them the VIP life-style.'
His response is one in every of deep damage and, understandably, some anger. He vehemently rejects his mom's claims, and as an alternative blames the ITV present, The X Issue, and the general public adulation it introduced, to not point out the mountains of money, for driving the household aside.
By talking out now he hopes, partially, to warn different households of the poisonous outcomes that sudden TV fame can deliver.
Strongest of all, although, is Ben's feeling of sheer bewilderment at the way it has come to this; all he really desires, he says, is his brother again and his household united after what appears like essentially the most private of betrayals.
I don't care concerning the famous person Olly Murs, I don't want his cash or his life. I simply need to know my brother.
Ben Hart - Olly's twin brother
'I used to be very near my mother and father, however fame and greed modified every little thing,' he says, his voice combined with anger and remorse.
'My mother and father needed this vibrant, shiny Olly with the cash who may give them the VIP life-style. They preferred hanging round with Simon Cowell, or going to Bon Jovi live shows – they liked their VIP selfies.
'I'm not excited by something like that, I've a stunning life with my spouse and children. I've labored onerous, been to college and received a level, I've by no means needed something from Olly.
'I can't imagine what my mum did by speaking about my childhood. I used to be so upset once I learn it.
'Why has my mum, the one that ought to defend me, stated issues which might be hurtful and unfaithful?'
Ben and Olly have been born in Witham in 1984, little brothers for sister Fay, 18 months older
So critical is the dispute dividing him from his household that Ben's mother and father, Vicky-Lynn and Pete, have by no means seen his youngsters, whereas he has just lately been pushed to make use of his spouse's surname quite than his personal.
But there was nothing a lot amiss within the boys' childhood, a cheerful upbringing with loving, hard-working mother and father in rural Essex.
Ben and Olly have been born in Witham in 1984, little brothers for sister Fay, who was 18 months older. Father Pete, now, 57, was a toolmaker and mom Vicky-Lynn, 55, labored at an area Little Chef. The three youngsters attended Howbridge Junior Faculty, near the household's semi-detached house.
Ben and Olly have been eager Manchester United followers and each loved singing: Ben remembers pretending to be Michael Jackson, performing into the distant management whereas Olly would lip-synch to the Backstreet Boys, carrying simply his pants.
It's true that Ben wanted speech remedy in his earliest years. However the twins have each spoken of a heat, close-knit household – till, that's, Ben met a good looking trainee nurse named Amy Hart on the scholar union bar at Anglia Polytechnic College. The pair started relationship and Amy met the Murs household.
Seemingly to advertise Olly's new UK tour, the twins' mom Vicky-Lynn (left) gave an interview which included devastating private particulars of Ben's childhood
And that's the second, years earlier than The X Issue, when many individuals imagine issues began to unravel. As a result of, for all of the destabilising affect of Olly's later fame and fortune, it appears a extra conventional rigidity was already undermining the Murs household unity.
The twins' mother and father disliked Amy from the outset – or so Ben believes.
When Ben and Amy received married at St Mary's Church in Chelmsford in 2009 – the yr of Olly's breakthrough – the tensions burst into the open.
Precisely what happened stays a matter of dispute, however in accordance with Ben his mother and father threatened to remain away until he made Olly his finest man; Ben refused.
Then – or maybe it will at all times have been the case – Olly declined the marriage invitation, preferring to attend a costume rehearsal of The X Issue. And regardless of an try at reconciliation, says Ben, there was no going again.
'Amy and I've been collectively for almost 11 years and now we have achieved a lot collectively,' he says.
'It infuriates me that Olly at all times factors the finger at Amy when she and her household have been my rocks. At my dad's 50th birthday celebration all of them ignored Amy and my in-laws for no cause. I used to be very upset about that so I went spherical to inform them so. Then, main as much as my wedding ceremony in 2009, they have been horrific.
'Olly was on X Issue on the time and my mum advised me that she and my dad wouldn't come on the day until I made Olly the most effective man, in order that my X Issue star brother may flip up and provides a speech for ten minutes. No means.
'They did flip up in the long run, however their perspective was horrendous. I used to be actually upset on my honeymoon.' The passing months turned anger into what seems like enmity. He continues: 'Later, when my grandparents died, my household didn't inform me of the deaths or funerals. I discovered by different those who that they had handed away and I wasn't given the possibility to pay my respects.'
Olly's dedication to X Issue has paid good-looking rewards, after all. He got here runner-up to Geordie singer Joe McElderry, however Olly emerged the true winner with 12 million document gross sales, 4 No 1 albums and 4 chart-topping singles.
Olly, pictured right here along with his mom, has had 12 million document gross sales, 4 No 1 albums and 4 chart-topping singles
At the moment he is likely one of the most recognisable faces in British pop, boasting legions of adoring followers and a fortune estimated at £eight million.
Faultlessly telegenic, he has embraced broadcasting too, fronting The Xtra Issue between 2011 and 2013 adopted in 2015 by a stint presenting the principle present alongside Caroline Flack. Subsequent month he'll play one other star position serving to to current Gary Barlow's Let It Shine expertise present on BBC1.
For sure, Ben shouldn't be a daily viewer.
'I detest X Issue and different exhibits prefer it,' he says.
'This killed actuality exhibits for me – I simply consider the households within the background and what that is doing to them. I can't watch them any extra. I have a look at my brother now and I believe "that's not you".'
Ben says he has repeatedly tried to make up with Olly and that, specifically, when Amy was pregnant with their second baby in 2013, he begged his twin to finish the feud.
He claims that the star responded with a textual content message that merely learn: 'Delete my quantity and transfer on along with your life.'
On the time, Ben stated: 'I advised him on voicemail if he didn't need to know me any extra then it was his resolution. He retains saying I've to step up and make issues proper – nicely, I've tried. Olly has no curiosity, he received't communicate to me.
'He doesn't need to meet my son, which hurts greater than something.'
Requested about altering his surname, Ben says: 'I simply needed to maneuver on. I couldn't address all of it – if I went into Barclays financial institution, I might be requested if I used to be Olly's brother. I might simply say "no". If somebody known as me by that identify now I wouldn't even flip round.
'Ben Hart. That's my identification. I'm blessed with my in-laws, they've supported me by this. I've had some very low occasions the place I've cried quite a bit however I've spoken to them about all of it and they're my security blanket.
Olly Murs with fellow X-Issue offered Caroline Flack
'Simply because I had difficulties as a toddler doesn't imply I don't perceive the values of life. I've a level and have achieved a lot.'
'I've been smacked in all places by what has occurred.
'Olly has been influenced by different individuals, together with my mother and father, in how he's in the direction of me.
'I've received closure on it now – I've completed what I can and I need to transfer on.'
It's damaging and hurtful, he says, for his well-known brother and his mom to maintain elevating their falling out in public.
Ben says: 'I'm a mum or dad to 2 youngsters and they're every little thing to Amy and I, and as a mum or dad there's a line you don't cross and my mum and pop have.
'As I advised them in 2012 to their faces, by no means point out me or my spouse once more as I need to transfer on. So why now? Have they knocked on my door? No.
'They've by no means completed the first rate factor.
'I haven't dedicated homicide, I haven't been to jail, so why are they doing this to me?'
A supply near the Murs household stated final evening: 'There are some inconsistencies in Ben's claims and a few false allegations. All households are sophisticated.'
Finally he has been by, Ben nonetheless holds out hope that he can someday be reconciled with an estranged brother who was born simply 14 minutes forward of him.
'I don't care concerning the famous person Olly Murs, I don't want his cash or his life,' he says. 'I simply need to know my brother.'
He ruefully admits this isn't more likely to occur any time quickly.
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