Dermot O'Leary says Simon Cowell would 'hunt him down' if he hosted Strictly Come Dancing
Dermot gave a very clear answer!Dermot O’Leary has finally lifted the lid on whether he’s being lined up to step into Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s sparkly shoes on Strictly next year.
After Tess and Claudia stunned viewers last month by announcing they’d decided it “feels the right time” to bow out – and after more than two decades on the dancefloor, no less – the rumour mill has been spinning non-stop about who could possibly replace them.
Now, with names flying around left, right and centre, Dermot O’Leary has been put on the spot about whether he’s in talks to take over the Strictly role…
Will Dermot O’Leary be hosting Strictly?
During an appearance on Ireland’s The Six O’Clock Show on Wednesday (November 12), hosts Brian Dowling and Katja Mia questioned whether the BBC was knocking on his door to take the role.
While making a dramatic turn toward the camera, he calmly asked: “Confirm or deny?” before declaring, “Deny.”
Dermot continued: “You know, being an X Factor kid, that’s like Julia Roberts in Sleeping With The Enemy.”
Former Big Brother winner insisted that Dermot’s former boss, Simon Cowell, “would not allow that”.
Dermot then joked: “Even though the show’s not on TV any more, he’d still hunt me down!”
On the other hand, the 52-year-old presenter admitted he had been in talks to be a contestant on Strictly.
“I didn’t think it was for me,” he said. When Brian questioned whether he would be open to the idea in the future, Dermot didn’t think so.
‘We’re like family’
While Dermot doesn’t look set to be stepping onto the Strictly stage any time soon, fans will still find him right where they expect him – fronting This Morning on Fridays alongside Alison Hammond.
And Dermot has previously opened up about why he thinks the long-running ITV daytime staple, which first hit screens back in 1988, has managed to stay so resilient.
Speaking to The Times in 2023, he shared his take on the show’s remarkable staying power.
“This is only my third year of being on This Morning proper, but there’s 35 years of history to live up to. Why has it lasted so long? We reflect the country — our stories might be frivolous, serious or uplifting,” he said.
“The presenters make a difference too. If two people aren’t getting on, the viewers can see that.”
While talking about his co-host, Dermot added that he and Alison have grown into ‘family’ after spending time together on the This Morning sofa.
Read more: All the questions that need answers as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman quit Strictly Come Dancing
