Dermot O'Leary told Soccer AM about the bizarre encounters he had with Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.
O'Leary reveals the bizarre world of pop stars
X Factor presenter Dermot O'Leary told
Soccer AM about the bizarre encounters he had with Michael Jackson and Britney Spears!
In the past six months the former face of Big Brother's Little Brother has met both the King and Princess of Pop, but admitted the meetings were more than just a little awkward.
In March he was asked to introduce Jackson at a press conference to announce his final performances in London this summer and O'Leary admitted he jumped at the chance.
"They called me up the day before and they said do you want to announce Michael Jackson onto the stage at the O2," he told
Soccer AM.
"And I was like, 'oh yeah, that's something to tell the grandchildren about.' Anyway normally when you introduce someone on stage more often than not, it's not about you, so you're lucky to get a handshake.
"But he just walked straight over to me and I thought 'this is odd'. So I put my hand out and the next thing I know I was getting the Jacko hug! A bit of the action!
"And I tell you what, he is ripped! It's not what you expect at all. He's like Championship or Premier League standard, I mean good back muscles.
"Anyway half way through he was stood there and then suddenly he became overcome with emotion and he turns around and looks at me, as if he wants moral support from me!
"So all I can think to do is go like this (put's two thumbs up) and say 'go on Michael'! And then he went (in Jackson's voice) 'thanks'. It was so weird!"
X Factor
Spears, meanwhile, was widely criticised after a lacklustre performance on X Factor in December last year when she appeared to mime one of her songs.
And O'Leary revealed that after meeting her backstage it quickly became apparent that she hadn't been watching the show.
"I don't know if I'll get the sack for telling you this, but alright I'll tell you!" he said.
"We were summoned outside her dressing room to go meet her. So she comes out of the dressing room and says 'hello, nice to meet you' and shakes our hands and then no one says anything for about 15 seconds.
"And I'm thinking, 'don't be the first person to say something Dermot!'. So I'm looking at Simon (Cowell) and I'm sort of saying, 'you're the boss, you say something!'
"So finally he says 'did you enjoy the show?' and she says 'what? No I didn't see it'!
"So we're about to go on air and Simon comes up to me and says 'you know she hasn't watch the show right?' And I've gone 'yeah I know' and he says 'we've still got to ask her who her favourite is though right?' and I'm like 'if you say so boss!'
"And her answer was, I've had a lovely time in London and they're all wonderful!"
