WHEN Dermot O’Leary hosts the National Television Awards tonight he can probably expect none of the ensuing media headlines to be about him.
Well, if he fell off the stage, accidentally swore or called someone by a wrong and hilarious name, perhaps. But otherwise he will just be the clever adjunct that keeps the whole thing running smoothly.
Like Ant and Dec but without the humorous scripts, Dermot provides the glue that holds a programme or event together with skills cleverly hidden. Everything is actually better but no-one realises why.
Dermot’s talents have been honed over years in TV, initially behind the scenes, then as warm-up man and finally as presenter. He is most associated with The X Factor where he manages to keep everyone in order and deals comfortably with live dramas.
Listen to his Radio 2 live music shows and they have the same beautifully seamless hallmark. His hero, apparently, remains Sir Terry Wogan and he has much of the same likeability – with, hopefully, the same career longevity.
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