O'Leary To Present X-Factor

[Chloe-Elise]

ITV has announced that Dermot O'Leary is the new host of The X Factor.

The 33-year-old from Colchester, Essex has signed to present the next two series of the TV singing contest.

He 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."

O'Leary has previously presented Big Brother’s Little Brother, Big Brother’s Big Brain and the BBC’s lottery show 1 vs. 100.

The fourth series of The X Factor begins on ITV in the summer. Hopefuls will be split into one of four categories - 14– 24s Boys; 14 – 24s Girls; 25s and Overs and Groups - and there will be a fourth judge.

From Digital Spy.

[SarahWakefield]

Dermot!?

Oh dear!..Cant stand the man!..

[Abi]

I really like him, actually. He's always stuck on the secondary shows, and not the main ones, so it makes a change for him to be the proper host of a programme. I think he'll do a good job at it.

[Bryan]

Hmmm not sure about this, he's got worse on BBLB as time has gone on... but I shant shoot him down till I've seen how he copes.

[DaVeyWaVey]

I think he could be a good replacement. I quite like him on BBLB so i think i will quite enjoy him presenting the X Factor, i'm glad he's got the chance to present a more popular, primetime show..i can't wait to see how he is on it!

[Chloe O'brien]

I thought he said he wouldn't be able to do it as it clashed with big brother. I 'm not sure about them lowering the age rate to 14 what if any acts taking part reach the live performances are under 16 are there parents going to agree to them being taken out of school for so many weeks and paraded in fornt of the media.

[brenda1971]

I thought that he had turned it down as it would clash with Big Brother

[Bryan]

BBLB isn't on of a Saturday, so there wouldn't be no clashes. And seen as the auditions are already going on he could get that part done prior to Big Brother starting.

[DaVeyWaVey]

It said in the Sun newspaper today he was quitting BBLB to do the X Factor...don't know how reliable the Sun newspaper is though.

[Jojo]

Its confirmed on ITV's main website that Dermot will be taking over from Kate so I'd say its true. Wasn't there a lot of talk about him not being happy with BBLB anymore or something anyway, so maybe this is the way of it coming to a natural finish for him I don't watch either