'One of the worst decisions I've made': Ellen DeGeneres reveals she loathed working as a judge on American Idol... and is flattered by reports her marriage is on rocks

By Mike Larkin For Dailymail.com

Published: 21:41 EST, 8 September 2015 | Updated: 02:08 EST, 9 September 2015

It was the chance to star on the most watched programme in the United States.

But Ellen DeGeneres has said she loathed working as a judge on American Idol so much she considers one of the biggest blunders of her career.

The comedienne was announced as the replacement panelist for the departing Paula Abdul to great fanfare back in 2009, but just months after her debut it was announced she was also leaving, with the television personality at the time saying  it 'didn't feel like the right fit for me.'

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Worst decision: Ellen DeGeneres told shock jock Howard Stern she hated being an American Idol judge

Worst decision: Ellen DeGeneres told shock jock Howard Stern she hated being an American Idol judge

When probed on the subject by Howard Stern she told the shock jock: 'That's one of the worst decisions I've made.'

And the 57-year-old confessed it was her own love of the programme that made her want to appear on it, before her decision blew up in her face.

The daytime chat show doyen said: 'As a fan of the shows, it doesn't matter that I sing or I know anything about pitch or anything, I'm like everybody else at home. It's American Idol.

'So I thought I'm gonna represent those people at home that have opinions… but then I just thought, like Howard says, I can't break this person's heart. Let somebody else do that.'

Fan-tastic: The sexy star's love of the show led to her joining the panel but she soon regretted her decision

Fan-tastic: The sexy star's love of the show led to her joining the panel but she soon regretted her decision

The former sitcom star also said she and wife Portia De Rossi are secretly delighted about reports their marriage is on the rocks.

Ellen said: 'We're kind of flattered, because for awhile no one cared about us and we thought 'oh, lesbians aren't worthy of tabloid stories.'

'So now we're kind of flattered that they even care about us.'

However she did admit she is baffled fellow LGBT icon Caitlyn Jenner is not more accepting of gay marriage.

Thighly amusing: Ellen admits she and wife Portia De Rossi are flattered when they are mentioned in tabloids

Thighly amusing: Ellen admits she and wife Portia De Rossi are flattered when they are mentioned in tabloids

Ellen said: 'She still has a judgment about gay marriage. And I said, "you're wanting people to understand and accept you, this is like really confusing to people. And you want us to understand, and that you still have a judgment about gay people and marriage."

'She goes well, she said if the word marriage is that important... and I was like, "it is, because that's the word.' We want the same thing everybody [else has]."'

She also bared her claws to poke fun at Caitlyn's love of the conservative GOP.

Ellen said: 'I think a lot of Republicans are wishing she wasn't Republican.'

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