Louis Walsh confirms X Factor return

Louis Walsh confirms he will return as a judge for the X Factor’s forthcoming 9th season.

Walsh was amongst the original line-up of judges when the X Factor launched in 2004 and is the only one to have appeared in every series of the ITV programme.

The original line-up consisted of Walsh alongside Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell with Dannii Minogue added as a fourth judge in 2007. Sharon Osbourne quit later that year following ‘personality clashes’ with Dannii Minogue; while Simon Cowell left after the 2010 series to concentrate on launching the American X Factor on Fox.

Walsh has also seemingly confirmed that Gary Barlow and Tulisa Contostavlos will also be back for the new series. ‘Walsh is quoted by The Mirror as saying ‘I am so happy to have signed up for another year. It’s my ninth year, I’m the only person to be in it for nine years. I know for definite that Tulisa is back, and Gary is back. I’m not sure if Kelly is back, but I hope she is, because she worked really hard last year’

The three judges were tipped to return to the X Factor but there has been considerable doubt about Kelly Rowland’s participation in the next series. There are some reports the singer has already quit with producers seeking a replacement while other reports state Rowland will switch to Fox’s X Factor in America.

Yesterday Olly Murs stated he would return for ITV2’s spin-off show The Xtra Factor and Caroline Flack is also expected to return. It is also thought that X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary will also be back for the new series.