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Dermot O’Leary: ‘Simon Cowell called me at midnight and said I’ve made a mistake – I want you back’

Dermot O’Leary has admitted Simon Cowell rang him after midnight to tell him he wanted him back on the X Factor.

The TV presenter had left the series, with Caroline Flack and Olly Murs taking over hosting duties.

Now Dermot is back and with a €9.5 million four deal signed and sealed.

Dermot admitted to receiving a late night call from Simon where he said: “I’ve made a mistake, I’d love to get you back.”

But speaking to the Sun Dermot said he didn’t return for the amazing money deal.

X Factor 2016 Auditions at Croke Park

He’s back: Dermot with Louis Walsh | VIPIRELAND.COM

“I’ve been like that since I was a runner on nine and a half grand a year. I’ve never taken a job purely for the money.

“With The X Factor it was, ‘What would make you come back? What would you like to do with the show? I didn’t worry about money.”

Dermot admitted that he left the show as producers were “looking at other presenters”.

“I don’t have a God-given right to that job. But I always said, ‘If I find out they are talking to anyone else, I’m not going to play games, I’ll just go’.

dermot

Missed: Simon wanted Dermot back | ITV

“So I called my wife and woke her up to tell her I was leaving The X Factor — which was a shock, as you can imagine.

“Then I went home, took a shower, went in and the rest played out.

“I called ITV and actually didn’t speak to Simon. I texted Simon and got a lovely text back but at the time I wanted to keep that at arm’s length.”

Dermot admitted that while some people tried to convince Dermot to stay Simon never tried to stop him.

THE X FACTOR: Simon Cowell. CR: Ian Derry / FOX

The boss: Simon didn’t stop Dermot from leaving | ITV

“No. A couple of people did but he didn’t. And you know what? Sometimes you’ve got to take the bull by the horns and take the decision for yourself.”

 

Speaking about the infamous X Factor live show when Ollie wrongly told an act they were going home, Dermot said he felt bad.

“I was in South Africa doing this BBC show for the best part of two months and that was almost a blessing in disguise because it shielded me.

“When Olly had the weekend he had, I wasn’t there. I’m not self-aggrandising but the first thing I did was text him and Caroline to say, ‘Christ, I hope you’re all right’.

“He got roasted for it but up to then he’d done a good job,” he explained.

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