Now, I know I've been in the middle of nowhere all Christmas, but this is confusing. I thought Louis Walsh wasn't coming back for the next series of X-Factor at all, and that he was to be replaced by Posh Beckham. But now the tabloids say she's definitely not interested and that Walsh is staying on, the big issue about his involvement in the show resolved. The big issue was money - producer Cowell has reportedly agreed to increase his fellow judge's pay packet by £100K.
This follows reports by The Sun that Walsh had threatened to quit for good (again) if his salary was not raised, after discovering that Sharon Osbourne was paid significantly more than he was. The Sun's source said: "Louis is gutted he has not been financially rewarded for his role. He claims he has played a bigger part in the two series than Sharon. She is obviously a big personality - but she hasn't had a winning act. Last year's winner Steve Brookstein was one of Simon's acts and this years winner Shayne Ward is controlled by Louis. Louis believes he has only been getting paid half what Sharon has been getting. He would rather not be involved any more if he's not going to be fairly treated."
Oh, and according to contactmusic, Cowell is 'fuming' over the suggestion that Posh might ever have been lined up to replace Walsh, and allegedly says: "It's total rubbish. I don't know where she got the idea from but it's not right. I have never asked her on to the show," which again is confusing, because the original quotation suggesting she might be involved were ascribed to Cowell, not Posh.