ThisisBigBrother.com - UK TV Forums - Louis Walsh RETURNS to The X Factor as the fifth judge.

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LOUIS Walsh will make a sensational return to The X Factor in a bid to increase the show’s ratings, The Sun can reveal.

The axed Irishman, who is now 63, will be back on the live shows as a “fifth judge” alongside close friend Simon Cowell, 55, and panellists Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, 32, a sworn enemy, Rita Ora, 24, and Nick Grimshaw, 31, who was controversially hired as his replacement.

Last night a senior X Factor insider revealed: “This is a complete bolt from the blue that no one expected, but Louis is an X Factor legend and Simon wants him back for the live shows. They’re great friends.

“He will be a neutral fifth judge who will sit in a special place away from the other judges to provide his own unbiased comments on the contestants.

“It’s a massive coup for Louis who is also going to sign a deal with Simon to help launch Ireland’s Got Talent as a judge.

“We know Nick will come into his own on the live shows because of his experience as a DJ, but we think Louis will be a great addition.”

We can reveal show bosses are also planning to introduce Strictly Come Dancing-style score paddles for the judges in another massive shake-up of the show’s format.

The source said: “We’re looking at the judges scoring each contestant for their singing ability and their X-factor. It will make the live shows much more exciting.”

Simon and X Factor bosses believe the absence of Louis, who was a judge between 2004 and 2014, has been a major factor in the criticism of the show this year, which has suffered a ratings slump.

Another show source said: “The reality is that Simon has missed Louis right from the start — it hasn’t felt the same for him without him and viewers feel the same.

“Louis could annoy a lot of people, but he was brilliant at creating the drama required to make a show like X Factor worked.

“It’s all been too nice during the auditions this year. Grimmy is popular backstage but viewers think he’s boring.”

The DJ has disappointed show bosses as Louis’ replacement and been pinpointed as a major factor behind the ratings decline.

Close associates of Simon have launched a “whispering campaign” against him, blasting his performance as “dull and uninspired”.

The changes come as X Factor faces criticism from those close to the show, which is now hosted by Olly Murs and Caroline Flack after Dermot O’Leary was axed earlier this year.

This week Richard Holloway — Cowell’s right-hand man and the show’s long-term executive producer — even suggested it could be rested at some point.

The legendary producer said: “Nothing is forever. The X Factor will have a finite life span but I think you then rest it and bring it back.”

Then yesterday, Little Mix, who won the show in 2011 and remain signed to Cowell’s record label Syco, criticised their boss for being “predictable”.

In comments that will not please her boss, Jesy Nelson said: “It’s getting a bit predictable. You kind of know what’s going to happen. Simon’s going to go [raises hand], ‘Give me another song’, and all that.

“I feel like I literally know what’s going to happen next. It’s like watching a film you’ve seen ten times.”

As for next year, we can reveal One Direction heartthrob Louis Tomlinson is already being lined up as an option to join the judging panel.

A show source explained: “Louis Tomlinson would have been the first choice to replace Louis Walsh this year but it wasn’t possible because of 1D’s tour.

“He’s now very much in line to join the panel next year because of the band’s extended break.”

Arguably the drama off camera on X Factor is more exciting than what’s being shown on screen at the moment.

We can also reveal strains have developed between Cowell and close friend Cheryl’s husband JB.

The Frenchman, who has often accompanied his wife to work, is said to take the process “very seriously”, even yelling at Cowell over comments he has made during shows.

A show insider explained: “Simon has also had to factor in Cheryl’s husband, who is very wary about her being involved in the show.

“There was an incident last year during a live show when JB started yelling insults to Simon from the audience when he made a comment about one of Cheryl’s contestants.

“It’s definitely made the atmosphere more difficult at times but Simon has done everything he can to ensure JB he is welcome as part of the show.”

Meanwhile, confident new star Rita Ora, who Cowell poached from BBC talent show rival The Voice, is fuming she has been criticised for being part of a boring panel.

In a feisty new interview from the US where she is on tour, she said: “Trust me, I’m not boring! We’ve gained a lot of viewers this year.”

However, that isn’t quite true, with the show’s figures down by an average of one million compared to 2014 when Louis and Mel B were judges.

And Strictly won more than three million more viewers when the two shows went head to head, but X Factor bosses stress the biggest ratings victory for the BBC was among pensioners.

This weekend, with Strictly off screen, X Factor had 7.3 million viewers on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, viewing peaked at 8.5 million.

Show bosses point out that more than 20 per cent of X Factor viewers no longer watch the show live, instead choosing to watch on catch-up.

Now they’ll be hoping the unexpected return of Louis will boost the numbers further. They’ll need it with monster hit Strictly returning this weekend.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-X-Factor.html

Loose Women have also confirmed it.