X Factor judge Louis Walsh has admitted that he won’t be on this week’s Saturday night show as he will be attending the funeral of Stephen Gately that day. Louis, 57, also revealed that although he was asked, he doesn’t intend to speak at the service.

Louis told The Sun:

“They asked me to get involved but I couldn’t stand up. I’d break down.

“The emotions and nerves would be worse than any X Factor show. I don’t like real life – that’s why I love the pop business, it’s not real. The funeral will hit me hard because it still hasn’t sunk in that he’s gone. I’m dazed.

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X Factor judge Louis Walsh, has spoken to press for the first time about the death of Stephen Gately. Despite rumours that Stephen died after an eight hour booze bender, which led to him choking on his own vomit, Spanish officials insist that he died from wholly natural causes.

Talking about his last meeting with Stephen, which was just last week, Louis told The Sun:

“Stephen was never happier when I met him last Monday.

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Louis Walsh has jibed that X Factor judge Simon Cowell is too old to understand Irish twins John and Edward Grimes.

Walsh told Heat magazine: “I know it’s a massive gamble, but I’m prepared to take a chance, and I’ve given that to them. They have been edited really badly in the show and they can only get better.

“It will wind Simon up that I’ve done this, which is great. And anyway, he’s over 50 now, so what would he know about them and what they can do?”

The X Factor press office have confirmed that Louis Walsh will not appear on tonight’s results show.

Early this morning, Louis found out that Boyzone singer Stephen Gately had died. It is thought that Louis may be flying out to Mallorca where Stephen passed away.

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X Factor judge Dannii Minogue is getting ready for revenge.

After putting up with insults and jibes from Louis Walsh about her botox, she is now hoping to get her own back following his recent cosmetic procedures.

Dannii told The Mirror: “I did say to Louis to expect a few little comments about his new face. He has been the one saying stuff over the years and calling me bloody plastic face and then he’s gone and got his eyes done. It’s payback time.”

As if Danyl Johnson hasn’t had a bad enough weekend, Louis Walsh has now called him a bully and claimed that he reduced girlband Kandy Rain to tears.

Sources told the News of The World that Kandy Rain reportedly rang Louis in tears after Danyl told them that they “have no chance”.

Louis is reported as saying: “Kandy Rain rang me crying.

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X Factor judge Louis Walsh has launched a scathing attack on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, saying that the show gets worse each year.

In an interview with The People, Louis criticised the shows calibre of celebrities, blasted Bruce Forsyth for defending Anton Du Beke’s recent ‘Paki’ comment, and called for the BBC to sack Anton altogether.

The Boyzone manager said:

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Louis Walsh has reportedly admitted that he was ‘peeved’, when he heard he would be mentoring the groups category on this years series.

The Mirror quotes Louis as saying:

“Yes I was peeved, but I wasn’t going to show it.”

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Louis Walsh has admitted that he is quietly confident’ that one of his groups can win this year’s X Factor.

Walsh told BBC Newsbeat: “I’m quietly confident. Listen, I got to the final last year with JLS. They’re the big success act.

“I got there with G4. I won it with Shayne [Ward]. I could be in the final this year. Only one act is going to win. 11 are going to go home. It’s wide open, I think.”

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Louis Walsh has reportedly claimed that popstar Kylie Minogue is “not a great singer”.

The X Factor Judge made the comment, whilst attempting to defend Irish duo, John and Edward Grimes.

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X Factor hopefuls have defended their mentor Louis Walsh, saying that he doesn’t think they are destined to lose.

Newspaper reports stated that Walsh claimed to have the ‘hardest group’ and no way of winning this year’s show.

However Miss Frank’s Shar Alexandra told the Press Association: “Maybe he’s saying that to surprise the public so everyone thinks he’s not going to win and then there’ll be a dramatic climax and one of us will.”

Edward Grimes said: “You can’t just say ‘I’m going to win the show’ because it puts a lot of pressure on you. You set your expectations so high that your expectations are higher than the actual act.”

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Wanna smell like Simon Cowell? Or perhaps you’d prefer the floral scent of Cheryl Cole. This Christmas why not buy your loved ones a bottle of their favourite X Factor judge’s perfume?

The Sun has reported that all four judges have agreed to release their own fragrances and are meeting with experts this week to pick their smell.

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On tomorrow night’s X Factor show, we find out who the judges are putting through to the live shows. However Louis Walsh was convinced that the gods were angry as a heavy rain downfall pelted the roof of the Villa at Lake Como, when he revealed he changed his mind overnight

Louis told Dermot O’Leary:

“I think the Gods are angry, maybe at my decision, I changed my mind over night.”

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X Factor judges Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh are said to have properly made up after their feud last year.

“There isn’t much tension between the judges at the moment because they are not in competition yet,” Sinitta told Love It magazine. “Dannii and Louis have definitely buried the hatchet and are hanging out.”

Sinita also claimed that there was never any tension between Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole.

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Woohoo – 2009’s X Factor series finally heats up tonight as the nation’s hopefuls descend upon London to be shortlisted. We get a lot of optimistic blurb from Simon, Louis and the others. Yes, it’s time for the unrealistic claims “This may be the most talented bunch we’ve EVER had at boot camp!” Bullshit! From the auditions we’ve seen so far, the auditionees are distinctly average.

Anyway, the challenge for our hard-working talent spotters this weekend is reducing 200 wannabes down to just 50. And from there, down to 24 and from there, down to 12. Shortlisting never sounded so much fun, huh?

First up, we get a fivesome slaughtering that Script song. Some wag of a producer intercuts footage of Cowell claiming that “there’s lots of potential this year”. Meanwhile, Simon 118ing the number for The Samaritans. And somewhat brutally, there are no second chances. The bad acts get chucked abruptly.

Amie Buck fulfils our prophecy from last week that people who forget the lyrics don’t get far in this competition. She has a memory lapse in the middle of her audition and Cheryl tilts her head in sisterly disappointment. We don’t feel bad for her, people who forget lyrics don’t want fame badly enough to actually try. Either that or she’s got some serious memory problems. Read more & comment »