The X Factor Harry Hill: 'It really is me... I'm Simon Cowell'

Harry Hill reveals to TV Times his favourite soap, what it's like dressing up as The X Factor judges, and his fears about the new series of TV Burp...

What was it like dressing up as The X Factor judges for our shoot?
“I had great fun with Simon. But it was a little bit strange dressing up as Cheryl Cole. When they made me up, I had to take my glasses off – so when I put them back on it’s like a big reveal. I looked like a cross between Lily Savage and Pat Butcher. I asked them to take off some of the make-up, because there is a fine line between funny and creepy!”

Do you think it's a good likeness of Simon?
“It was quite spooky, I suddenly felt very powerful. I went to try to withdraw some money – I could see people looking and I was thinking, 'No, it really is me, I’m Simon Cowell!'”

Why do you think The X Factor is so successful?
“Every year I think it can’t work again – it’s the same format, same people, same stories a lot of the time – but it drags you back in. It’s a sitcom, really, isn’t it? The X Factor is a sitcom about the panel, with cameos from the contestants and walk-ons from the guest performers. It’s not about music, that’s for sure.”

What about Strictly?
“Everyone is talking about Ann Widdecombe – there must be something desperately wrong with the world when that’s happening.”

What is it like in the run up to a new series of TV Burp?
“Scary! One year we did 21 shows, and by the end I was in a really bad way. It made me want to give it up, whereas if I was doing a shorter run, like this year, I would be happy to do it for ever. It has to be fun, otherwise I might as well go back to being a doctor!”

What makes it so scary?
“The honest answer is that this is a very stressful time of year for me. It would be easy to coast and make the same show every week, and we could probably get away with it, but we are quite hard on ourselves. It’s only of interest to me if we can make it different, otherwise it just becomes a money-making scheme, doesn’t it? I quite like sitting down on Monday morning and watching two hours of EastEnders, although not Emmerdale, but I also have the pressure of coming up with scripts, costumes, props, ideas. Every week I think it will be the worst show ever!”

But it must be great to be part of such a success?
“Yes. When it’s really good I think: 'Yeah, this is great, this is what it’s all for.' I love watching it, and I do laugh at it, which is odd, really, isn’t it? But I watch it as you see me now, I’m watching as this other person, in a way. My ultimate audience is my wife. I know she’s a really tough audience, and I love to see her laughing...”

The new series of Harry Hill's TV Burp screens on Saturday, 9 October on ITV1.