[Arneldo]

TELLY favourite Louis Walsh was ready to rejoin his chums last night — after being re-hired for The X Factor.

The Irish music mogul was axed from the hit telly talent show in March, sparking outrage among fans.

But X Factor judge Simon Cowell, who owns the rights to the programme, brought him back after spending a day with him at Ascot races.

A source said: “It wasn’t until Simon returned from filming American Idol that he realised how popular Louis was. When Louis turned up on Simon’s This Is Your Life they buried the hatchet.

“Simon told him, ‘We’ve made a mistake, we need you back on the show’. But by that time they’d hired Dannii Minogue and Brian Friedman.”

Dannii and Brian will still remain on the ITV1 show and Cowell, 47, was last night due to reveal what part Louis will now play.

X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne said at the Mojo Awards on Monday night: “I’ve missed Louis — I really want him back on the show. Simon was cruel.”

But Cowell maintained it was ITV’s decision to get rid of 54-year-old Louis and show host Kate Thornton.

The cast have begun auditions for the new series, which starts in August.

After getting the boot, Louis said his ten-year friendship with Cowell was in tatters.

He raged at the time: “I have been completely shafted by Simon. I never expected in a million years to hear that I was being sacked.”

The Sun