DERMOT O'LEARY - No.8

"I think we go out too late": 

Dermot O'Leary thinks X Factor should take on Strictly head-to-head

"We’re a family show and I don’t know a family that starts watching at 8 o'clock and finishes watching at half past ten"

By Mark Jefferies 7 Dec 2012

Host also believes the show will work best in 2013 WITHOUT the return Simon Cowell. Dermot O'Leary has blamed the X Factor ratings drop on the show being on too late - and has urged bosses to go head-to-head with Strictly next year. The show host, defended the talent on the singing contest ahead of the final. He said: "I think you have good years and bad years. I think this is a very good year in terms of talent and Strictly have had a great year this year. “If you want my honest opinion I think we go out too late. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go head to head. I'd rather go head-head 100 per cent. “We’re a family show and I don’t know a family that starts watching at 8 o'clock and finishes watching at half past ten. “If I worried about who watched this show I’d go out of my mind, If I thought about the however many million watch at home I’d go crazy.” “I think if the room’s having a god time, those at home are having a good time and no-one can argue the talent's been good this year." Dermot's comments came as the show headed into tonight's final with figures down two million down on last year. Bosses hope performances from the likes of Rihanna, Kylie Minogue and One Direction will give them a boost and help them beat Strictly this week.

Dermot also believes the show will work best in 2013 without the return Simon Cowell. He said: “I don’t have a hotline to Simon Cowell ... It is tricky... the show has evolved so much. “But the format is so robust and it is a national treasure and some years are more successful than other years. But I think the judges we’ve got now are a really strong set and in many years to keep changing year on year on year, I don’t know I that’s good for the show or not. “It’s like a footballer – it might need a year to bed in.” “The room is always more exciting when Simon Cowell is in it but it couldn't work with Simon and Gary."

Turning to this year's finalists, Dermot praised the talent who will be trying to win this weekend. He said: "James Arthur is probably the most creative contestant we have ever had on the X Factor. “It used to be that people would turn up and say ,’Simon you tell me who you want me to be and I’ll be it'. Now people have their own idea abut marketing, their own idea about creative input into their performances and how they want the show to work for them. And that’s what it should be about. “Let’s be honest just living outside Middlesborough he doesn't have that many opportunities, this show has given James that and that for me is what the show is all about – in its purest form. "Let’s move onto Christopher who essentially gets pilloried for singing songs he wants to sing. It’s like guilty pleasures every week. He makes no bones about who he is. That’s the artist he wants to be – a big crooner ." And referring to the third finalist, he added: "Jahmene is the one who has probably come on the most. When I first met him he had a great vocal but I couldn't get a great interview out of him. He’s really come out of himself now. He’s so cheeky and funny."

WE LOVE YOU, YES WE DO!

rachelsmith_7: The fact that @radioleary is at the Lowry where im working and I havent met him yet depresses me soo much!! #comeseeme

ThisisTimDean: @radioleary why are you having room service? When you could be with this merry bunch! #redwine #laughs #comeonoutderms 

radioleary: @ThisisTimDean Got to be a good boy. Game day tomorrow.

radioleary: @ThisisTimDean Thanks though.

ThisisTimDean: @radioleary we love you Dermot!

HUG LIMITS

georgeyboy: @radioleary you came into our office and didn't come and say hello...This is a major incident...Hope you're well

louiseminchin: @georgeyboy @radioleary he said hello to us and gave us a hug too!!

georgeyboy: @louiseminchin @radioleary this just will not do. You've changed Dermot.

radioleary: @georgeyboy @louiseminchin Sorry Georgie, I was all hugged out! X

JamesYeoman: @louiseminchin Wel jel you got @radioleary on the sofa this morning but you should have asked for a Dermot Hug!! @BBCBreakfast

louiseminchin: @JamesYeoman @radioleary @bbcbreakfast got one! But he gave Charlie a better one x

radioleary: @louiseminchin @jamesyeoman @bbcbreakfast He's all skin and bone that Charlie... Worried about him.

WAKE UP CALL

EllyOldroyd: Waking up to @radioleary on my TV. Best (and possibly only) reason to watch X Factor final.

radioleary: @EllyOldroyd Shucks... Thanks Elly. X

morning show

xfactorpress: @radioleary will be on @BBCBreakfast this morning after 8.30am #XFactor

BBCBreakfast: @radioleary thanks for joining us to look ahead to tomorrow night's grand finale of #XFactor: good luck to all ! CLICK LINK: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0128xgb

X Factor 2012: Dermot O'Leary defends Christopher Maloney

Posted December 6, 2012 by Josh Darvill c/o http://tellymix.co.uk

X Factor host Dermot O'Leary has defended Christopher Maloney although it certainly sounds as though Dermot isn’t Chris’ biggest fan. Speaking ahead of this week’s final, the hunky telly presenter said: “People have voted for him, so he deserves to have got this far. “It’s possible to be impartial – I’m as impartial as I possible ca be – but he can certainly hold a note “I think the proofs in the product. If he sells loads of records then it proves he’s a good winner.” If he wins, Derms!
And Dermot added: “I’ve always found him to be 100 per cent polite and respectful and I haven’t seen any of the rumoured behaviour.” Dermot admitted earlier this week that he was expect Ella Henderson to win the competition, and was left shocked by her early exit last month. “I thought Ella Henderson was going to win. I’ve never seen a studio like that. It wasn’t angry, it was just numb, he said. “It’s amazing how many people were shocked that Ella had gone, but it just goes to show how important it is to vote.”

WHO PUT THE 'X' IN SEX 

mariawilkinson1: @louiseminchin @BBCBreakfast @radioleary I met Dermot he is so lovely I'm on right

TheRobEllisShow: @wingmanlikesham also met Dermot O Leary @radioleary at the xfactor press call! #xfactor

NickyDav: @carolineflack1 @radioleary Spotted last night. What a great night.