‘Take X Factor off the air’: Dermot O’Leary offers advice to Simon

Television presenter and X Factor veteran, Dermot O' Leary, thinks that Simon Cowell should take the X Factor off the air for a year. 

In an interview with Radio Times, the 42-year-old has said that the show has taken a turn for the worst. 

"If I was Simon, I’d take it off air for a year," said Dermot. 

"I’d rest it, then I’d get back to the rooms. For me it was always room, arena, boot camp.

"I was really uncomfortable about the Six Chair Challenge. I don’t think it’s a particularly nice bit of television.”

And we could not agree more. 

Over the years, ratings of the show have dropped while criticism has mounted over the constantly changing format of the show and an emphasis on entertainment over the people involved. 

Dermot presented the talent contest for eight years up until last year and he was replaced by former Xtra Factor duo Caroline Flack and Olly Murs who faced intense criticism during the season's run. 

"You never want other people to fail, but sometimes you need a few cock-ups to remind people it’s a finely honed craft."

The ITV show's ratings dropped by a massive 700,000 for the last show compared to last year's final and Dermot knows exactly where the viewers have gone. 

"I know where they’ve gone, they’ve gone and watched Strictly [Come Dancing].”

“One of the reasons people like Strictly is because it’s a very warm show.”

You tell 'em, Dermo.