Dermot O'Leary admits to feeling under "pressure" now Simon Cowell's back on 'The X Factor'.
The 41-year-old presenter says having the show's boss and head judge back on the British panel after a three-year absence has made him work even harder this year.
He said: "To have him back comes with its own pressure. There's that thing of stepping it up a bit when your boss is on shift. But he's a fair boss. There's no Alex Ferguson-style hair-dryer treatment.
"The 'Mr. Nasty' thing is a bit of a misnomer, but he works hard and he's a perfectionist. He finishes a show, goes home and watches it again. OK, that may be a tad obsessive."
Quizzed about how Simon's return has affected the show, Dermot quipped: "More fag breaks! And lateness. He's always late. I don't know where his body clock is but it's not on UK time. I'd like to think it was because he's a new dad but let's be honest, I don't think he's getting up for the 3am feed!"
Meanwhile, Dermot has become a national treasure for his caring, contestant-friendly persona on the music competition and doesn't think it's his role to be the "bad guy" on the show.
He told ShortList magazine: "I try to be honest. I'm not blunt or curt, but I think people smell bulls**t and you're not doing anyone any favours by lying. You change as you grow up, but I never consciously think, 'Right, I'm going to be the bad guy this year.' "
'The X Factor' continues tonight (31.08.14) at 8pm on ITV1.
Tagged in Alex Ferguson Dermot O'Leary Simon Cowell