The lament was tangible in Dermot O’Leary’s voice as he explained how he’d signed a contract extension with X Factor before Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole jumped ship yesterday, so it’s no surprise to hear him offering an unsubtle “come-and-get-me” plea to the television chiefs of America this morning.
After narrowly missing out on the presenter’s job for the American X Factor, O’Leary told The Daily Star that he’d quit the UK version in a heartbeat to work on rival show American Idol in the future.
“Yeah, I’d do American Idol. I want to work in America,” said Dermot, before indicating that he would have no problems with going head-to-head with Cowell if need be. “I’m not scared of Simon Cowell, we’ve worked together for five years now. But I’m fiercely loyal to myself first of all.”
“I didn’t get the US X Factor job because they wanted an American. There’s nothing I can do about that. I’m not upset any more. I’ve had time to get my head around it,” he added.
