Dermot O’Leary hints that The X Factor may not return until 2023

Dermot O’Leary hints that The X Factor may not return until 2023 and says he can’t contact boss Simon Cowell because he ‘doesn’t have a phone’

Dermot O’Leary has hinted that The X Factor may not return until 2023.

The presenter, 47, first hosted ITV’s singing competition in 2007 and has opened up on the talent show’s hiatus and when fans can expect to see it back on air.

He told new! magazine: ‘I can’t see it coming back this year. If it does come back, it’ll be 2022 – maybe 2023.’

Farewell for now: Dermot O’Leary, (right), has hinted The X Factor may not return until 2023, saying: ‘I can’t see it coming back this year. If it does come back, it’ll be 2022 – maybe 2023’

Dermot admitted he is missing filming the show, which launched in 2004, adding: ‘You do miss it, definitely. You work with people for the best part of 10 years and you become a really tight team. 

And you do miss the buzz of a Saturday night show. There’s something great about it.’

The talent series was halted in 2020 when coronavirus hit, rendering it impossible to produce the show, which involves mass gatherings for open public auditions. 

Early starts: Dermot y is currently presenting This Morning alongside Alison Hammond every Friday after taking over from long-time hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes

Early starts: Dermot y is currently presenting This Morning alongside Alison Hammond every Friday after taking over from long-time hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes 

Music titan: Dermot said X Factor boss Simon Cowell doesn't own a phone (pictured in November 2019)

Music titan: Dermot said X Factor boss Simon Cowell doesn’t own a phone (pictured in November 2019)

In the meantime, Dermot revealed he will be focusing on other projects and is currently presenting This Morning’ alongside Alison Hammond every Friday. 

The first-time father also addressed his relationship with X Factor boss Simon Cowell, 61, suggesting that he hasn’t had much contact with the music titan while the show has been off air.

Dermot explained: ‘He doesn’t have a phone, bearing in mind he’s got, like, three PAs. But his PAs are all doing fine!’

The father-of-one has hosted the show since 2007, taking over from former host Kate Thornton, who was presenter from 2004–2006. 

Dermot has hosted every series since, aside from in 2015 where he was replaced with former contestant Olly Murs and the late Love Island presenter Caroline Flack. 

When he’s not busy with his hectic work schedule, Dermot spends as much quality time as possible with his baby son Kasper, nine months.

The TV veteran and his wife Dee Koppang, 42, welcomed their son in June.

Proud dad: The TV veteran and his wife Dee Koppang, 42, welcomed Kasper in June and the doting dad spends as much quality time as possible with his baby son

Proud dad: The TV veteran and his wife Dee Koppang, 42, welcomed Kasper in June and the doting dad spends as much quality time as possible with his baby son