The Dermot factor

I like Dermot O’Leary on telly – I think he’s a gifted TV presenter. But I can’t really see him doing big old L.E. bollocks of a Saturday night. 

So, here’s the press release from The X Factor

ITV announced today (Friday 30 March 2007) that Dermot O’Leary will be the new host of The X Factor. The presenter has signed a deal that will see him host the hit entertainment show for the next two series.

Dermot said: “I was very flattered to be offered the job to host such a hugely successful show. I’m really looking forward to working with Simon and the team on the kind of Saturday night entertainment show I grew up watching.”

Dermot is best known for hosting Big Brother’s Little Brother, Big Brother’s Big Brain and the BBC’s lottery show 1 vs 100.

Duncan Gray, ITV’s Controller of Entertainment said, “Dermot is a star. He’s warm, clever and funny and he was our number one choice for the job. We’re thrilled to have him on ITV and we’re sure he’ll keep The X Factor the nation’s number one entertainment show for many years to come.”

Dermot and the team will commence their audition tour in May and will visit city centres across the country in the biggest talent search on television. Leona Lewis, winner of last year’s series, scored a number one with her single A Moment Like This and runner up Raymond Quinn is currently at number one in the charts with his debut album.

The X Factor’s fourth series – which starts on ITV in the summer – will feature a fourth Judge and another category. Contestants will be split into 14 – 24s Boys; 14 – 24s Girls; 25s and Overs and Groups. 

Richard Holloway, Executive Producer of The X Factor said: “With each series of The X Factor we have always strived to make the show bigger and better and this year with Dermot and four Judges I’m sure the viewers are in for a ‘xtra’ special series.”