Welsh TV Presenter Reflects on LA Experience in Podcast Appearance
- Welsh presenter Steve Jones decided to leave Los Angeles.
- He referenced a story involving Justin Bieber as a reason for his departure.
- Jones initially moved to Hollywood after landing a hosting role on 'The X-Factor USA'.
In a recent episode of the podcast "Miss Me?" hosted by Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver, Welsh TV presenter Dermot O'Leary shared his candid thoughts on living in Los Angeles. During the discussion, Allen expressed her disdain for the city, describing it as “vacuous, soulless and horrible,” and admitted to feeling haunted by her past experiences there. O'Leary, who resided in LA from 2011 to 2012 while hosting the first season of "The X Factor USA," recounted a pivotal moment that led him to leave the city. He recalled feeling disillusioned while covering trivial stories, such as Justin Bieber's new mattress purchase, which prompted him to reconsider his career path. O'Leary's decision to return to the UK was influenced by his relationship with Phylicia Jackson-Jones, a US-born food writer he met in a bar in LA. He described their meeting as the “one fantastic thing that came out of The X Factor USA,” noting that they moved in together just six months later. The couple is now approaching their 10th anniversary, celebrating a lasting partnership that blossomed amid the chaos of reality television. Since his departure from "The X Factor USA" in January 2012, O'Leary has continued to host various programs, including Channel 4’s "Sex Box" and "This Morning." During the podcast, he encouraged Allen to release new music, to which she responded with hints of upcoming projects, stating, “I’m basically putting something out there.” O'Leary is set to return for another episode of the podcast on August 26.