Gary Barlow's X Factor UK Departure Next Year Confirmed By Show's Host?

22 August 2013, 13:24

ITV show host Dermot O'Leary seemingly confirms the head judge will be leaving to focus on Take That once again.

Gary Barlow's heavily rumoured departure from The X Factor UK next year has seemingly been confirmed by the ITV show's host Dermot O'Leary.

The show's head judge has widely been tipped to step down from the show after the new series to focus back on work for a new Take That album, amid rumours Simon Cowell may be set to rejoin the show's judging panel in 2014.

"Simon is a great judge so we'd welcome him back, but Gary's been such a great head judge as well," host Dermot O'Leary revealed to The Mirror this week. "If Simon comes back, the dynamic would be very different.

"Gary wouldn't be there, he'll be leaving at the end of this year," the presenter explained.

Louis Walsh has also seemingly confirmed plans to leave after this year's series, his tenth as a judge on the show, while Sharon Osbourne recently hinted that her 2013 return may just be for one year.

Check out a picture of the 2013 X Factor panel below (Credit: Twitter):