Veteran X factor Judge, Louis Walsh has left x factor after more than a decade with the television hit show. The 62-year-old sounded aggrieved and gave the impression of not feeling appreciated, claiming that X factors producers want to give the show a lift. Walsh said he wants to go back to managing acts and expects TV bosses will want to bring in new faces to freshen up the panel.
The X Factor judge also criticized Simon Cowell for taking all the credit for the former five-piece boy band One Direction.
Walsh told ITV3 “I think I’m done with X Factor honestly. My day job is as a manager, I’ve kind of neglected that. I want to get back to being a manager.
“I’m working with Shane Filan, he’s got a new record coming out, and I’m working with Hometown. I’d like to get back to where I started off… I never wanted to be on TV, it just happened.”
He made reference to his wide experience of 11 years on the show, stressing his belief that show bosses want fresh faces on the show. It’s a long time in television, he said ”I think they’re going to change it, go for a few new faces. It is not the first time Walsh has quit the popular talent show. The veteran Judge also quit the show right in the middle of the 2005 X factor series , protesting about bad treatment he was being subjected to. Just before that exit, he had complained bitterly at an incident in which Sharon Osbourne drenched him in water in full view of a live audience. He returned the next evening on a Saturday, claiming his conscience would not allow him abandon his only act still in the competition, Shayne Ward. Shane eventually went on to win the competition that day.
Two years later, in March 2007, ITV announced that ward would no longer appear as a judge but would manage some acts behind the scene. That decision shocked Walsh, who was replaced by American chereographer, Brian Friedman.Three months later, after a lot if behind the scenes talk, Walsh announced he would return for the fourth series of the show, but eventually returned for the fifth series. Friedman who had replaced Walsh, was then promoted to becoming the creative director of the show.
Walsh and Simon seem to have a tempestuous history when it comes to their personal relationship, Walsh has some kind words for Cowell, but also resents him slightly. ”Simon takes all the credit, he says, but Nicole Scherzinger and I were very much involved as well. If it hadn’t worked, Simon would have said it was our idea. But Simon did press all the right buttons. He made it work”.
It may well be that it can’t continue to work for Walsh if something in the relationship isn’t quite right. Or it could be that the relationship has somehow improved so dramatically , but the show bosses just want someone new and fresh. It is anyone’s guess what has actually sparked his decision to leave now. He definitely intends to continue in the music business despite his sudden departure from the show. He said ”if you don’t like this business, you shouldn’t be in it. You have to be full time. You have to love it”. Of course you do, with all the continued opportunities and financial rewards, who wouldn’t?
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