The spark between the presenting duo has been obvious since they co-presented the Xtra Factor in 2012 – and now Simon, 55, has revealed that’s exactly why he’s signed them up for the main show this year.
Speaking to The Sun, Si said: “Olly and Caroline have great chemistry. I think he fancies her, or maybe the other way around actually.”
We’re sure everybody is over the moon about this news… except maybe Olly’s longterm girlfriend Francesca Thomas.
Olly, 31, and model Francesca, 26, have been dating since 2012, after they met at V Festival in Chelmsford.
The Troublemaker singer has always been notoriously private about his love life, and he previously admitted: “It’d be different if I was dating a celebrity but I want to give this a chance to blossom – and being in the industry and can make it a hundred times harder.”
Just this week it was reported that Caroline, 35, had reunited with her ex-boyfriend Jack Street, after they were spotted getting cozy at Glastonbury festival.
A source said: “Caroline has been trying to keep her relationship with Jack out of the spotlight but they couldn’t keep their hands off each other on Saturday night.”
Caroline and music manager Jack – who looks after superstar Sam Smith – split in December last year, amid reports he’d been seeing 28-year-old Glee star Dianna Agron.
Maybe that’s why Simon was quick to add that he was just ‘kidding’ about Olly having a thing for his co-presenter.
The music mogul also took the time to praise Olly, who has become one of X Factor’s biggest selling artists since coming runner-up in 2009.
He said: “The irony is that when he announced [he would be taking over from Dermot O’Leary], he was playing in front of 12,000 people. It shows The X Factor can change your life. He’s perfect to be in that position.”