Dermot O’Leary has joked Louis Walsh comes up with the "same old s**t every year" on ‘The X Factor’, but will still be "called back in a couple of years".
The ‘X Factor: Celebrity’ host and the returning show judge enjoyed some playful poking of fun at the ITV show’s London launch this week, when Louis insisted song choice would be "crucial" for celebrities to progress further in the live shows.
Asked whether talent would shine through or if a having a huge online following would play a big part in contestants’ success this year, Louis’ fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger said: "Talent, personality, story and authenticity always shines through.
"This country knows heart very well.
"People aren’t stupid. They gravitate towards what they feel they connect with."
Louis added: "Yeah, song choice is crucial. Song choice every week…"
Dermot then joked: "See, same old s**t every year isn’t it? We’ll still call him back in a couple of years."
Louis admitted he was happy to return to ‘The X Factor’ when show boss Simon Cowell gave him the call, despite being fired from the talent show "two or three times" previously.
He said: "He’s sacked me two or three times. But I love doing the show, I love working with Nicole and I love working with Simon."
Dermot joked: "Louis, you just expect the call every couple of years don’t you?"
Referring to Dermot being sacked from ‘The X Factor’ in 2015 and replaced by joint hosts Olly Murs and Caroline Flack for one series, Louis quipped: "Hey listen, you were gone, too."
Dermot joked: "Yeah but you know, fool me once and shame on you. But with you it’s just again and again and again and again."
Louis admitted one of the lures about the show is the pay packet.
He said: "It’s a great show, it’s great fun, and it pays."
And the music mogul is excited about the new format, which will see star names such as Glee’s Kevin McHale, ‘The Chase’ quizzer Jenny Ryan, and a group made up of former ‘Love Island’ stars Samira Mighty, Wes Nelson, Eyal Booker and Zara McDermott all compete to be crowned ‘The X Factor: Celebrity’ champion.
Louis said: "There’s something from everybody in the show this year. It’s like a whole new ‘X Factor’.
"I think the public are going to love it, I really do.
"It’s like a whole new show. I think the producers did a great job."