Dermot O’Leary has revealed a surprise career move after swapping This Morning for the big screen this Christmas.

The TV host, 51, has teamed up with musical superstar, 33, and Love Actually director Richard Curtis, 67, and will appear in their Netflix movie That Christmas.

The animated outing is co-written by Richard and Peter Souter and features an original song Under The Tree, written and recorded by Ed.

Dermot will lend his voice to Christmas Tree tall owner Mr Chop alongside fellow radio DJ Jordan North, 34, as Mr Hack, who also appears in a cameo role.

The star-studded voice cast also includes Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Katherine Parkinson and Bill Nighy.

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Dermot O’Leary has revealed a surprise career move after swapping This Morning for the big screen this Christmas

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The TV host has teamed up with musical superstar (L) and Love Actually director Richard Curtis (R) and will appear in their Netflix movie That Christmas.

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Dermot will lend his voice to Christmas Tree tall owner Mr Chop (L) in the film is co-written by Richard and Peter Souter and features an original song written and recorded by Ed

Based on Richard’s trilogy of children’s books, That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about family and friends, love and loneliness, and Santa Claus making a big mistake.

Richard said: ‘This has been the most amazing adventure, my first animated film. It’s been especially exciting to see the whole world I imagined come to life beyond my wildest dreams – and populated by a dream bunch of actors, their wonderful voices turned into such rich and funny characters.’

It comes after Dermot  reflected on the ‘huge pressure’ fame put Liam Payne under as he opened up about his shock death.

The former One Direction member, 31, reportedly fell from the third floor of CasaSur Palmero Hotel in Buenos Aires shortly after 5pm on Wednesday evening.

Dermot, was host of the X Factor when a then 14-year-old Liam auditioned for the show in 2008, before the singer went on to reach meteoric fame when he joined One Direction during his second stint on the show two years later.

Speaking during a video appearance on Thursday’s This Morning, Dermot recalled the enormous pressure Liam must of felt being part of the biggest boyband in the world at the time, before emotionally remarking that ‘no parent should have to lose a child’.

Meanwhile, Capital Radio’s Sian Welby fought back tears on the show as she paid an emotional tribute to ‘wonderful’ Liam.

Speaking to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, Dermot told how he last saw Liam at Soccer Aid in 2022, saying of the Strip That Down hitmaker: ‘He always beautifully wide-eyed about the world and his place in it and fame –  it was such a huge amount of pressure to be put on young shoulders’.

Dermot will be joining a star-studded cast in his role as Mr Chop (R)

Meanwhile fellow Jordan North, 34 lends his voice to the role of Mr Hack (R)

The star-studded voice cast also includes Brian Cox (pictured) Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker , Katherine Parkinson and Bill Nighy

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2003’s Love Actually is one of the most beloved Christmas movies of all time (High Grant and Martine McCutcheon pictured in the film)

Dermot then went on to discuss the attention that being part of One Direction brought to Liam and the boys, stating: ‘He’s been not just famous but had worldwide fame for half his life which is incredible amount of time for that much pressure’.

Struggling with his emotions, the father-of-one added: ‘I just thought of his family, I thought of his son and then I thought of his parents. I mean no parent should have to bury their son or their daughter.

‘Obviously our thoughts and our prayers, our candles are half-lit for his family. That goes without saying.’

Going on to pay tribute to Liam’s parents Karen and Geoff, Dermot – who had earlier paid tribute to the star – recalled forming a close bond with the families of contestants during his stint hosting the ITV programme.

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It comes after Dermot reflected on the ‘huge pressure’ fame put Liam Payne under as he opened up about his shock death

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Dermot then went on to discuss the attention that being part of One Direction brought to Liam and the boys, stating: ‘He’s been not just famous but had worldwide fame for half his life which is incredible amount of time for that much pressure’

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Struggling with his emotions, the father-of-one added: ‘ I just thought of his family, I thought of his son and then I thought of his parents. I mean no parent should have to bury their son or their daughter’ [Dermot, Liam and One Direction pictured in 2010]

He shared: ‘Obviously I am really sad and our hearts go out to his family who we grew really close to. We got to know their families so well in such a short space of time.

‘His mum and dad were just adorable. They were very territorial over him. They were never pushy. This was very much his dream which he loved.’

Meanwhile, later on This Morning, Capital Radio host Sian Welby, 38, paid tribute to the star as she told of the ‘devastating, tragic start’ to the show having to deliver ‘the worst news’ to many fans who had grown up with One Direction.