Producers of the British music show The X Factor have described rumours of a return of Irish judge Louis Walsh as “speculation,” as the show is set to go head to head with Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC.
Walsh, who was axed from the show following 10 consecutive years as one of its main talents, is seemingly in talks to return for the live shows, working as a neutral fifth judge alongside Simon Cowell, Nick Grimshaw, Rita Ora and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.
UK tabloid The Mirror claims X Factor sources want to bring back the Irish pop mogul, 63, in a bid to boost the show’s ailing viewership. Walsh was replaced on the show by Grimshaw, a BBC Radio 1 DJ, who has seen his judging style receive mixed reviews from the public.
Reports suggest that Walsh, who has previously managed Westlife and Boyzone, will sit in a special location in the studio during the live shows, in order to provide neutral and unbiased comparisons of what youthful version of an established musician the contestants remind him of. Rumour has it that the judges will also be scoring the contestants out of 10 similar to the way Strictly Come Dancing performers are appraised.
But an X Factor spokesperson replied to the news saying: "The X Factor is one of the most watched shows on TV. It continues to draw millions of viewers each weekend with millions more watching on catch up. A total of 9.6 million watched the opening episode including 2 million on demand.
"The live shows do not start until the end of next month and any talk of plans at this stage is speculation."
Speaking about the show last week, Walsh told the Daily Star Sunday that he got the impression that viewers were uncertain about the show's new line up.
"I'm not sure about Grimshaw. I haven't seen much of him," the Irish media manager said, adding "People don't like change and I think they miss [presenter] Dermot [O'Leary] and maybe some people miss me."
The X Factor is broadcast in Ireland on TV3, and is currently contracted to ITV in the UK for another season in the Autumn and Winter of 2016.
