Dermot O’Leary: ‘Simon Cowell won’t let us go upstairs during Judges’ Houses’

This weekend (Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 October) sees the X Factor 2016 juggernaut up sticks and chuck the contestants straight into the most savage pre-finals round: Judges' Houses.

Each year, six lucky acts from each of the four categories get to jet off to exotic locations (with the exception of Louis Walsh's Dublin house, LOL) to sing their little hearts out at the, er, judges' houses – and this year we got X Factor host Dermot O'Leary to dish the dirt on what goes on behind the scenes…

Just how hard is the Judges' Houses round?

“Well, I have got to be honest; it is the easiest part of the job. There’s no thinking about it really, I get to go to nice locations and speak to very nervous people, and have dinner in nice places. But I am still there as the arm around the shoulder.”

What's Sharon Osbourne's LA palace like?

“I have been to Sharon’s house before. It’s ace. I went to the toilet last time and found myself in Ozzy’s study and thought, ‘Oh I took a wrong turn, I shouldn’t’t be here. This isn’t my stuff!’. There was lots of literature about history in there. It’s great. I’m a big history buff so that was good.”

What about Nicole Scherzinger’s Nice pad?

“I always seem to be in the south of France and I just love Nicole. I think she’s the judge you would probably want because she will chuck herself in. She’ll take the boys out for runs. She’s the judge to have. They are all brilliant but she is the one who absolutely commits to it.”

Talk us through being in Ibiza with Louis

“I did one of the worst TV shows I’ve ever done in Ibiza, when I was just starting out as a presenter on Channel 4. It was called The Dogs Balearics and they promised me this show about Ibizan culture and stuff. But it was dreadful. Anyway, it’s always nice to be in Louis’ ever expanding property empire!

Finally, what goes on in Simon Cowell's Malibu mansion?

“It’s immaculate! I haven’t snooped around Simon’s house; I’m never going to do that! You don’t go upstairs! It’s all immaculate. Very monochrome. I don’t know why he lets us in. He does it every year, I think he’s crazy. There’s no way I would let people in my house. Your electricity bill alone must be through the roof. But we can’t get Simon to go anywhere else!”

For even more X Factor goss, pick up this week's heat magazine – out now.

The X Factor continues this Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7.30pm on ITV