Dermot O’Leary almost quit ‘The X Factor’ over a lack of screen time.
The 47-year-old host has revealed he confronted Simon Cowell over how he was being used on the ITV talent show after being brought back in 2015, but the music mogul was able to win him over.
As quoted by The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column he said: "I’ve had my state-of-the-union meeting with Cowell as well. You’re watching the show one day and going, ‘I’m not in any of this’.
"He does that great Simon thing where you walk into his house and you’re like, ‘Stick to the plan, say what you want to say,’ and then you sit down, you’re going through it and he goes, ‘Do you want some chicken pie?’
"And in your head, you’re like, ‘Actually, I really like chicken pie.’ "
Dermot admitted he enjoyed the meal, before telling Simon what he thought – and his boss instantly agreed.
While hosting an interactive talk for Ant and Dec’s autobiography ‘Once Upon A Tyne’, he added: "The most delicious chicken pie you’ve had in your life turns up and you have this thing and you go, ‘I don’t think I’m in the show enough.’
"He goes, ‘Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah, absolutely.’ Then you go, ‘Great, now I can just have a great time,’ because he’s great company."
He also insisted Simon held up his end of the bargain, and gave him exactly what he’d asked for.
Dermot explained: "To be fair, he’s a man of his word. When it happened to me, I was in it more. And I felt more part of the team.
"He’s a great night out as well, terrific company. When you see that little sparkle and the gossip starts, he’s a world of fun. I just wish he wasn’t so late all the time."