Our man James at judges’ houses in South Africa
Show was in crisis says host Dermot
X FACTOR host Dermot O’Leary says X Factor is back to its best after being in crisis.
The popular presenter said the show suffered a few years of “lurching from crisis to crisis” amid falling ratings.
But Dermot, 44, says the show is now back on track with producers more concerned with making the best show possible rather than chasing viewing figures.
He said: “The show feels very comfortable in its own skin this year. I don’t know but it doesn’t feel like we are as worried about ratings as we used to be.
“It feels more like we know what we are. I’m not sure if it is because the level of contestants is better this year but it doesn’t seem to lurch from crisis to crisis. It is a very happy place to be at the moment.” Dermot was chatting at Nicole’s judges’ houses heat in South Africa.
The Radio 2 DJ revealed filming in each of the judges’ locations was more like a boozy holiday than work.
He said: “Filming judges’ houses is great fun. It can be tense, stressful and long hours but there is also a sense everyone is on holiday mode. “When Nicole is on form, it is impossible to go to bed. We did an all-nighter at her judges’ houses location last year. She then gets up in the morning and goes for a run looking as fresh as ever.
“Louis is such a night owl too. We had a lot of fun in Istanbul this year. We went to Soho House for dinner and spent a long time chatting.” Dermot was axed in 2015 but was brought back last year as replacement hosts Olly Murs and Caroline Flack flopped with viewers.
He’s now signed up for three more years. But he’ll now have less work to do as the live shows have been cut to just five weeks.
He added: “I’m absolutely gutted that the live shows have been cut. I get why they have done it. No-one watches two-and-a-half hour TV shows on a Saturday anymore so it was the right decision.
“But I’m a broadcaster. I love doing live TV so I would much prefer doing 20 live shows rather than 12 but that’s not my decision.”