BBC Plans to Poach Dermot O’Leary
BBC Plans to Poach Dermot O’Leary. BBC bosses are reportedly planning to poach Dermot O’Leary from ITV. The hunky presenter was thought to be disgruntled when Simon Cowell offered Welsh star Steve Jones a job presenting the American X Factor over him and the Beeb are allegedly hoping to cash in on that disappointment and offer him a big money deal to drop The X Factor and front The Voice instead.
BBC One boss Danny Cohen announced the commissioning of the new reality TV show last week and is said to be keen to get the former Big Brother’s Little Brother star onboard.
A source told The Sun that Cohen believes Dermot would be a ‘great catch’ for the BBC, saying:
“Danny is a big fan of Dermot’s and knows he would be a great catch for the BBC. He wants to do some shiny floor stuff as well as factual programmes and we can offer that kind of wide-ranging deal.”
A pal added: “Dermot’s £1million-a-series deal for The X Factor is negotiated every year, so he could walk away after this year’s show.”
Insiders had also suggested that producers on The Voice were considering hiring both Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue – who until last year judged on The X Factor – for the new UK series. However, a source insisted that new blood will be brought on, to avoid airing an ‘X Factor clone.’ They said:
“We don’t just want to hire people from the X Factor. This is one of the hottest tickets in town for a star right now.”
A spokesman for Dermot said: “Dermot is looking forward to presenting the UK X Factor later this year and currently enjoying ITV’s Marriage Ref.”
Source: unrealitytv
