Dermot O'Leary is Shamefaced


SHAMEFACED Dermot O'Leary yesterday tried to squirm out of his X Factor sob-story scandal, claiming it was a "harmless gag".

He also claimed he had the "utmost respect" for Scots hopeful Amy Connolly.

But Amy was having none of it and insisted that unless he said "sorry", it wasn't an apology.
Dermot made hurtful remarks during filming of new ITV2 quiz show Celebrity Juice last week and shocked fans of The X Factor on which he usually consoles upset contestants.

On Celebrity Juice, he ranted: "I don't care what your dream is. I don't care what you want to sing. And I don't care about your dead relative."

While this was not directed at Amy, he had earlier given her a hug after she had revealed that she was only six when her mum Rosemarie died.

The 19-year-old's older half-brother David died in a car crash a few months after her mum died of breast cancer.

Amy, who now lives in Watford, Hertfordshire, branded the host a "two-faced fake" for his comments.

In yesterday's Daily Record, she admitted that she was shocked at Dermot's nasty comments and called the presenter a "heartless b******" and "cruel".
Amy and fellow contestant Daniel Evans, whose wife died after giving birth to his daughter, have both spoken of their loss but insist they weren't trying to get the sympathy vote.
With X Factor judge Simon Cowell reported to be "fuming" at the remarks, Dermot tried to backtrack yesterday.

He said: "Most of us have suffered from bereavement and it is something I'd never make light of.

"The banter with the panel of Celebrity Juice was about me having a night off and I would be mortified if a harmless gag was taken out of context. I have the upmost respect for Amy and Daniel and anyone that handles personal tragedy with such grace."
But Amy said: "I wouldn't accept that as an apology. I would want him to say the word 'sorry'.
"Dermot comes across as so, so nice but do not get close to someone, do not care and then say something like that on a television programme.

"How can this man who has supported me from day one say something like that?
"If you feel that strongly about it, do not get involved.
"What he said is not harmless. I can understand it was a gag, but it's heartless."
Amy is in the final 24 of the competition and will be seen this weekend in Cannes fighting for a place in the live shows under Cheryl Cole's mentorship.

With the girls category having some of the best singers on the show, Amy getting chosen as one of Cheryl's final six will be all about her voice rather than the loss of her mum.
She added: "What has happened in my past is a part of me and I can't change that."

An ITV spokeswoman said Simon was in Los Angeles and is unlikely to have seen the piece but added: "Celebrity Juice is a late-night adult show that doesn't take itself too seriously and it's in this spirit that Dermot was making fun of himself.
"It absolutely wasn't aimed at anyone."