Former ‘X Factor’ host Dermot O’Leary may be about to betray Simon Cowell in the ultimate way by signing up to front rival show ‘The Voice’.
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The presenter is reportedly a frontrunner to land the job on ITV’s version of the talent show, after it was revealed it would be leaving the BBC following its fifth series next year.
Dermot O'Leary
Dermot is being lined-up to replace current hosts Emma Willis and Marvin Humes, as ITV look to revamp the show when it joins their schedules in 2017.
A source told The Mirror: “When ‘The Voice’ joins ITV it’s going to have a new feel - they want to put their own stamp on it, and that looks likely to include a new presenter.
“Dermot is hugely popular with viewers and knows exactly what he’s doing - there’s no better choice for a host and he will be first in line.”
Dermot left ‘The X Factor’ after eight series earlier this year, and was replaced by Caroline Flack and Olly Murs.
While it was believed to have been his choice to leave, he reportedly made the decision after hearing Simon was looking to replace him anyway.
Emma Willis and Marvin Humes are the current hosts of 'The Voice'
The future of ‘The X Factor’ is currently uncertain amid the show’s sliding ratings, as it’s current contract with ITV ends in 2016 - just months before ‘The Voice’ comes to the channel.
The BBC announced last week that they had lost the rights to the show.
Acting director of television at the BBC, Mark Linsley, said: “We always said we wouldn’t get into a bidding war or pay inflated prices to keep the show, and it’s testament to how the BBC has built the programme up – and established it into a mainstay of the Saturday night schedule – that another broadcaster has poached it.”
It’s fifth series is due to air on BBC One in January, and sees Paloma Faith and Boy George joining the panel alongside Will.i.am and Ricky Wilson, replacing outgoing coaches Rita Ora and Tom Jones.
'The Voice' will move to ITV in 2017, but Ricky Wilson won't...
However, Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky has already ruled out appearing on the ITV series, revealing he will quit the show when it leaves the BBC.
“This is my last one anyway… I don’t think ITV would want me. They would want to have a totally new show,” he told The Mirror earlier this week.