Dermot O’Leary reveals The X Factor ‘definitely won’t be back next year’ and hints at 2022 return due to Covid-19

DERMOT O'Leary has revealed The X Factor 'definitely won't be back next year' and hinted at a 2022 return due to Covid-19.

The ITV singing competition was last seen on our screens in 2018, with boss Simon Cowell deciding to rest the show for a year and run two special versions in 2019 instead including a Celebrity edition.

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However, the show's return has been postponed even further due to the coronavirus pandemic, and during an appearance on today's Sunday Brunch, Dermot, who hosts it, said fans are in for a long wait.

When asked about The X Factor coming back, Dermot said: "If I knew, I'd tell you, because I'd be happy. I've no idea!"

The 47-year-old added that the amount of auditionees and the logistics involved made it harder to produce in the current climate.

He explained: "'It's got the turning circle of a car ferry. There's a lot of planning that goes into it.

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"It definitely won't be next year, so it will probably be back in 2022."

Asked if he had spoken to show boss Simon about it, Dermot said: "We've been in touch."

Dermot has hosted the show since 2007 after taking over from original presenter Kate Thornton.

He was replaced for one year in 2015 by Olly Murs and the late Caroline Flack, before returning in 2016.

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Dermot has plenty to keep him occupied in the meantime, with his BBC Radio 2 show and the recent confirmation that he will be hosting the Friday edition of This Morning every week alongside Alison Hammond.

The pair will take over in the Friday slot from Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, who will now present the shows during the school holidays when main hosts Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are off.