UPDATE: Dermot's tweeted us...
@heatworld It ain't so.
THANK THE GODS!
Stare at your fellow humans in blank dismay, for the face of The X Factor could be changed for all eternity: Dermot O’Leary is considering jacking in his hosting job ahead of this autumn’s new series.
The ink has barely dried on Ben Haenow’s record contract, yet Derm’s thinking of moving on, as he tells this week’s Radio Times.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he said, presumably as the interviewer’s face scrunched up in pain and fear.
“I love doing [X Factor] and it’s a huge part of my life. But it’s eight years now. If a new challenge came up that meant I couldn’t do both, then… But while I’m still enjoying it, I want to carry on doing it.”
But… but… but… why? And how? And who? And WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK YOU PLAYING AT, DERM?
When will we even find out whether he’s leaving us or not? “Usually we talk in about mid-February,” he added, which means there’s a WHOLE FOUR WEEKS we have to get through without knowing for certain that his little face is going to be waiting for us outside those terrifying audition rooms.
But how serious is he being? The Dermeister also tweeted someone who asked him about the quotes to say: “To be fair, I also said, it's not only up to me.”
Right, someone start a petition to Simon Cowell on Change.org and we’ll start rallying the troops. We are NOT living through a whole winter without Dermot’s cheery grin on our screens. We REFUSE.
(Oh, we’ll be seeing Dermot on the red carpet at the National Television Awards next Wednesday (21 January) – join us on heatworld and @heatworld to keep up with all the goss from the ceremony and to see if we decide to forgive Derm for throwing us into panic.)
(And OH AGAIN - you might want to pick up this week's heat mag for a Dermot SPECIAL - here's a little hint about what you'll find):
VOTING TIME!
GALLERY: Top 20 best dressed of the week! Starring Olivia Munn, Jessica Chastain and Allison Williams
Top 20 best dressed of the week! Starring Olivia Munn, Jessica Chastain and Allison Williams
1 of 20Alicia Vikander
Hot actress Alicia nails the '70s trend ahead of the fash pack in her Louis Vuitton ensemble
2 of 20Allison Williams
Blimey, Allison's had a good week in style! Here she is rocking feline eyes with her navy embellished Monique Lhuillier princess dress
3 of 20Cara Santana
Looking effortessly stylish in classic black and white paired with sleek locks and a teal belt. We heart you Cara!
4 of 20Chloe Moretz
Showing us an edgy way to wear a mini, Moretz teams her leather Louis Vuitton number with fierce heels and a Victoriana blouse
5 of 20Emily Blunt
The new mum and Into The Woods star looked like a divine goddess in her white and gold David Koma frock paired with simple strappies
6 of 20Emmy Rossum
You can never go wrong with leopard and red. Bold, brave and totally amazing
7 of 20Victoria Justice
Could this be the cutest jumper ever?
8 of 20Sophia Bush
We first spied those spiky Louboutins on Rochelle Humes, and we've not stopped thinking about them since. Sophia's fruit salad Lela Rose dress is the perfect accompaniment (not that we ever plan outfits around our shoe choice or anything)
9 of 20Sarah Hyland
This icy blue jewelled Christian Siriano dress is positively dreamy. Top marks, Hyland!
10 of 20Rosie Fortescue
OK, so we can't afford Rosie's Loubs and her Joseph cut-out jumper. But we can just about manage to fork out for her LK Bennett midi (after payday, obvs)
11 of 20Felicity Jones
Not only is this navy lace Monique Lhuillier gown AMAZING, but we're mad for Flick's make-up too
12 of 20Gigi Hadid
OK, we need to get to the gym RIGHT NOW
13 of 20Jamie Chung
Doing simple with a twist in a strapless midi with eyelet details teamed with juicy accents
14 of 20Jessica Chastain
Having a Marilyn Monroe moment in an Alexander McQueen tiered LWD paired with scrunchy curls
15 of 20Kaley Cuoco
She doesn't always get it right fash-wise, but The Big Bang Theory's Kaley has nailed red carpet style this week with her Kaufman-Franco matchy matchy pastel look
16 of 20Kendall Jenner
Could Kenny J BE any cooler? We're lusting after those leopard brogues
17 of 20Katharine McPhee
Super sexy in mono Balmain and wine lips. This shape is super flattering on Katharine
18 of 20Reese Witherspoon
Proving a cosy cable knit and statement tote is all you need to work a classic jeans and heels combo
19 of 20Olivia Munn
Wowing in Giambattista Valli double stripes paired with patent courts and hot red beauty
20 of 20Marion Cotillard
Sod the rain, we want a pair of those satin heels NOW please