Media

Cowell insists Walsh safe on X-Factor UK

By | Published on Tuesday 25 October 2011

The X-Factor

I’m thinking we should probably have sent one of those ‘breaking news’ emails out about this yesterday afternoon, because I suspect most of you were up all night worrying after The Sun reported Louis Walsh faced the axe from ‘X-Factor’.

According to yesterday’s Sun front page, with the ‘X’ charade losing viewers left, right and centre this series, and following Walsh’s recent on air hissy fit in which he called one contestant, Misha B, a “bully”, producers of the show were in talks to axe the aging judge from the programme, and to use his empty chair to get Simon Cowell – now judging on the US version of ‘X’ of course – back onto the ailing British version of his talent contest franchise.

But worry not all you Walshers out there (that’s what they call Louis Walsh fans I believe), because Cowell has personally contacted his former colleague and given him his word that “your job is safe”. In fact, rarely has the ‘X’ founder been so resolute in ensuring his support for one of the show’s regulars. I mean, not since those vicious rumours circulated about Cheryl Cole’s future on the US version of the show has the Syco man been so unwavering in his reassurances that the gossipers have it wrong.

But it’s not just Cowell sending out words of reassurance to the talent franchise’s resident OAP, apparently the show’s UK producers and ITV programming boss Peter Fincham have also insisted the rumours are not true. One of those sources told Digital Spy: “Louis was bemused to see the Sun story, but after eight years on the show he’s not concerned at all, most years the papers say he is for the chop but he’s still the last judge standing”.

It’s true. Anyone would think that publicists for ‘X-Factor’ are feeding The Sun made up stories to get their flagging show some free publicity, perhaps in the hope websites the world over will pick up on the story on Monday, and the subsequent denial on Tuesday, ensuring even more exposure. You might think we’ve been suckered into that plot also, but hey, you should see what writing about ‘X-Factor’ does to our web traffic.

And if you’re disappointed that CMU might be involving in the dirty business of jumping on the ‘X’ bandwagon just to get some extra online readers, well, rest assured, it’s only so we can remind everyone how the money-grabbing bastards who run the ITV show get their thrills screwing over children’s charities.



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