Dermot O’Leary: Simon Cowell charmed me back to X Factor with midnight phone call

Dermot O’Leary has revealed an apologetic Simon Cowell charmed him back to the X Factor with a midnight phone call in which he admitted it was a mistake to let him go in the first place.

O'Leary will return to host the singing competition when the 13th series begins next weekend. He had been replaced for one series by Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.

The presenter told The Sun he got a late-night call in February from Cowell, who told him: "I've made a mistake, I'd love to get you back."

After the discussion, O'Leary got a flight to Hollywood to meet Cowell. He said: "It was a lot less awkward than I thought it was going to be.

"Simon and I spoke about where we thought the show had lost its way and how to bring the heart and soul back. That was key for me."

O'Leary, 43, has reportedly signed a lucrative new contract with the ITV show but told the newspaper that money was not a factor in his decision to return.

He said: "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."

O'Leary will return to the line-up along with judges Cowell, Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger.