'I've had a brilliant time': Caroline Flack confirms she has bowed out of X Factor presenting role amid claims she had been FIRED by Simon Cowell

Caroline Flack has confirmed she has stepped down from her presenting role on The X Factor, days after it was reported she had been 'axed' by Simon Cowell.

The 36-year-old TV star said in a statement: 'I have had a brilliant time working on The X Factor over the last few years, and hosting the main show was just fantastic, I made some amazing friends. I'm looking forward to carrying on working with the team over at ITV.'

Her exit from the ITV show came after her co-host Olly Murs also revealed his departure from the talent series.  

Time to go: Caroline Flack has confirmed she has quit her role as an X Factor presenter

In an interview with The Sun, he said that he made the decision last month, adding: 'My heart belongs to music.' 

The 31-year-old also told the paper: 'This was an incredibly hard decision to make and one I didn't take lightly as I've really enjoyed co-hosting The X Factor.  

'It's been one big adventure and I loved every minute of it. But my heart belongs to music and I want to concentrate 100 per cent on making my next album and getting back to performing.

See more of the latest X Factor news updates as Caroline Flack confirms her exit 

Time to move on: Olly Murs sensationally QUIT X Factor on Sunday, after reports first claimed Caroline had been axed by Simon Cowell

He also said: 'Last November I was doing the show, promoting a new single and I felt increasingly like the music side of things had to be shoehorned into the TV schedule.' 

The X Factor has already lost Nick Grimshaw as a judge, and it was previously claimed that Caroline had been fired from her role.

Earlier reports claimed that Olly was given the chance to 'walk before he was pushed' from the ITV talent series.

See more of the latest X Factor updates as presenter Olly Murs quits the show  

What a pair: Olly, 31, and Caroline, 36, were both replacement presenters on the most recent series for long-running host Dermot O'Leary

According to The Sunday Mirror, a source said: 'Simon Cowell likes Olly and doesn't want him to go under a cloud so he's being given the chance to walk before he's pushed. Olly always said he would never present the show without Caroline.

'They come as a package. He had a good time on the show and got on very well with everyone but realises his forte is music.

The source added at the time: 'Olly has been in discussions with his management about whether he wants to continue with the show because he's started recording and writing for his new album.'  

The loss of both Caroline and Olly is a sad one, as Commissioning Editor for ITV Entertainment Peter Davey has said: 'We thank Caroline and Olly for all their hard work on The X Factor and the contribution that they've made over the past few years. 

Taking it in her stride: Amid the speculation over her future on the show, Caroline cut a cool, calm and stylish figure as she stepped out during London Fashion Week on Saturday

'We look forward to working with Caroline again soon and wish Olly the very best as he returns to concentrate on his music career.'

Richard Holloway, Managing Director Thames TV, and Interim CEO FremantleMedia UK added:

'Caroline and Olly were a brilliant double act on The X Factor, from their early days on Xtra Factor to last year at the helm of the main show. I'd like to thank Caroline and Olly for their contribution to the show and wish them all the best.' 

Meanwhile, show spokesperson said at the weekend, amid reports of Caroline being cut from the show by Cowell: 'Details for the new series of The X Factor are still being discussed and will be announced in due course.'

The spokesperson added to MailOnline that with regards to Caroline, 'no decisions have been taken on presenters' for the coming series.

Caroline previously hosted spin-off show The Xtra Factor from 2011 until 2013, before returning to helm the main show in 2015. She is also the presenter of ITV's Love Island.

'They come as a package': A source told The Sunday Mirror ahead of the news, that part of Olly's decision may come down to his close bond with Caroline

Olly - who rose to fame on the the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, on which he came second behind winner Joe McElderry - was previously said to be currently weighing up his different options before he decided on his next career move.  

Meanwhile, judge Nick, 31, has confirmed that he'd quit the prime-time show, despite counter claims that he had been axed.

A spokesperson for the radio DJ said: 'After careful consideration, Nick has decided to rule himself out as a judge on this year's X Factor.

'He loved working on last year's series alongside Rita, Cheryl and Simon but it was very much a once in a lifetime experience. 

Within hours it was claimed that Cowell was considering two potential replacements: 1D's Louis Tomlinson and previously axed judge Louis Walsh.

A source told The Sun: 'Louis Tomlinson is very likely to replace Grimmy. He agreed in principle to the job while assisting Simon Cowell during the Judges' Houses round last year.' 

The spokesperson added to MailOnline that with regards to Caroline - who co-hosted the main show for the first time alongside Olly Murs in 2015 - 'no decisions have been taken on presenters' for the coming series.

He's gone: Nick Grimshaw has revealed he has stepped down from his role as a judge on the ITV talent show

Grimmy addressed his decision to step down on his breakfast show on Friday.

He explained: 'We announced on this show last year that I was going to do X Factor, and maybe now we should say that I'm not going to do X Factor.

'We just had a think about it and sat down, and I just thought it's one of those things that I loved, I did love it, its not a diss to the show, it's not me storming out of X Factor being like 'screw you Cheryl'! It's a great show and I loved it.' 

They won't see this line-up again: 2015's series of X Factor had the biggest drop in ratings - the all-new line-up included Rita Ora, Nick, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Simon Cowell on the panel, and Caroline and Olly as the hosts

The news comes after the X Factor failed to garner dramatic figures. Its final episode pulled in 8.4 million with a peak of 9.9 million in the overnight ratings.

The 2014 final drew in an average of 9.4 million in the overnight ratings.

The 11th series of the talent show has been dogged with criticism following a shake-up to draw younger audiences and inject new blood after nearly a decade on air. 

Following December's live final, in one of many technical glitches, Caroline was forced to hit out on Twitter to defend herself and co-host Olly's presenting skills, after the show was marred by issues.

She insisted that she and her 31-year-old co-host were not to blame for the evening's faults after the pair were criticised on social networking, tweeting in defence: 'Not our fault. Technical issue. Get your facts right'.

After the wrong music was played over the incorrect scene and a faulty sound issue meant Caroline could be heard asking for assistance, Simon was then seen raising his hands in despair to somebody off camera while Olly and Caroline acted to cover up the mistake.

On the show, the blonde beauty looked horrified after the glitch, while music mogul and X Factor boss Simon Cowell reacted in a spectacular fashion.