Reality TV
Simon Cowell flew O'Leary to LA to watch the US talent show being filmed in a bid to convince him to host The X Factor.
Cowell's campaign proved successful, but only after O'Leary had made his talent show debut on the US series.
He told Heat: "(Simon) did say: 'Come out and see how we make American Idol.' That was hilarious. I got in the back of the shot. One of my mates called me up afterwards and said: 'I saw you on American Idol, clapping to a Bon Jovi song! What were you doing?!'"
More: Reality TV, X Factor
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