Dermot O’Leary reveals how the X Factor has changed since his return as host
Presenter finds the atmosphere on set to be much warmer and fun than before
DERMOT O'Leary thinks the X Factor is not as cruel as it once was since returning as host.
The 43-year-old left the series in 2015 after eight years, but was ceremoniously announced to return earlier this year, replacing Caroline Flack and Olly Murs who fronted the show for one season.
Speaking to Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes on Tuesday's This Morning, Dermot
He said: "I think the overriding thing for me this year, the feeling at least is it's been very warm and very fun and with coming back that is the one thing I wanted.
"It feels very warm, feels very funny and doesn’t feel cruel.
"I think Simon being a dad might have something to do with that. He reacts to a 'no' in a completely different way now."
Dermot isn’t the only old face returning to the series, as Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger have all been reinstated as judges, and Dermot credits them with creating such a nice vibe on and off camera.
He continued: "The judges are all getting on very well, Sharon being back I think adds a little umph to Louis and he stands up to Simon a little bit more.
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"Nicole’s brilliant because she’s so beautiful, and intelligent and really funny."
Eamonn asked if the star felt like that had been a drive to change things, after last year's series faced a barrage of criticism and falling audience figures.
Dermot replied: "Overall most people have said let's try and get back to our basics, which is, this show is a celebration of great British eccentrics, and when we get to the end in the studio, we have eight great voices and three or four characters and then the public decide.
"It’s that simple."
One thing which isn't as straightforward is Dermot's dance routines, which became a fan highlight during his last couple of series as host before his brief departure.
Claiming he isn't a natural dancer, Dermot recalled the first time he had to do it a few years ago, saying: "There was one moment where the doors were about to open, which is always the most exciting moment of the week and out of nowhere the dancers appeared.
"I was like ‘alright what are you doing here?’ They said ‘We’re doing a dance’ but no one had told me, and they said ‘Don’t worry just follow us’.
"So that’s why when people go on Twitter saying ‘Its rubbish’ I’m like ‘Yeah of course it is I didn’t even know I was doing it’".
Asked by Ruth whether he will be bringing his moves back to the new series, Dermot teased: "I’ll speak to my choreographer, we’ve got to do a few, with tongue firmly in its cheek."
The X Factor returns in August on ITV.