Cowell: Dermot was "natural choice"

Simon Cowell has spoken out for the first time about Dermot O'Leary's appointment as the new host of The X Factor.

Speaking to Heat, the record company exec described O'Leary as the "natural choice" to succeed Kate Thornton, who was axed from the role last month. "He always could have been Mr Primetime," Cowell added. "I said to Dermot, 'It's your gig and you've got to do what you want with it.' I have met him on several occasions and I like him a lot - he's a good guy."

The magazine reports that O'Leary turned down the job twice before finally accepting last week. "From what I gather he took time to think about it very carefully," said Cowell, who is also a judge on American Idol and upcoming series Britain's Got Talent. "I've had a few conversations with him on the telephone [about becoming host], but ITV have handled the negotiation side of things. They wanted him as well."

The fourth series of The X Factor airs on ITV1 from August.