Dermot O’Leary experiences a weird and ghoulishly alternative set of X Factor judges when he hosts The B Factor; an eerie X Factor spoof on Saturday morning, in Ross Lee’s Ghoulies on Nickelodeon.

Dermot is drafted in to play ‘host’ to a talent show with a twist – to find kids’ presenter Ross Lee a new butler.

Ross is quick to line up the judges for his contest and they are all rather familiar to Dermot: a Geordie witch called ‘Cheryl Mole’; Ross’ friend Armpit as a puppet-like version of Simon Cowell with high-waisted trousers and a mop of jet black hair. Ross’ other friend Mr Budgie (a talking head) morphs into a Louis Walsh-a-like with grey hair and an Irish accent; and Ross himself transforms into an Australian diva with long dark hair and a leopard print dress.

After filming the sketch, Dermot said: “Filming with Ross Lee and his Ghoulies was a terrifying and surreal day but I loved every minute!”

Dermot still manages to turn on his usual charms amidst all the ghoulish behaviour, but instead of wannabe superstars the auditionees range from a hunchback ogre to a French maid hoping to win the ultimate contract; to be Ross’ right hand man and champion of The B Factor!

The topical sketch even parodies a scene from the recent X Factor auditions when ‘Cheryl Mole’ refuses to judge a contestant – a monster called Brian – who she went to ‘spell academy’ with.

‘Cheryl Mole’ breaks down and declares, in a Geordie accent: “This is weird, me and Brian we were at spell academy together. I was in the final ten of witches and he was in the last ten of wizards but he didn’t get through,” before getting up and making her excuses. “I don’t feel I can judge this. I can’t do this, I’m going to go.”

When introducing the talent Dermot tells the contestants: “If they can hold their nerve, their cool… in front of these four stony faced, well, one is just a face, and one is just a mole … and that cross dressing bone-bag then they may, just may, be dusting down drawers for the rest of their days!”

Ross Lee’s Ghoulies transmits every Saturday morning at 10am on Nickelodeon.