First of all can we just have a big cheer for the X Factor which returns next week. This is Unreality TV’s big TV show of the year, and one which we get scarily addicted to! So bye bye social life from August until Christmas!

Now to the point of this story.

Word is that new judge, Cheryl Cole, and old favourite (?) Louis Walsh, are locked in a battle over who gets to mentor the groups category in this years series.

A source on The X Factor, told The Daily Star: “There are a few bands which are really hot this year.

“Louis and Cheryl think if they get them, they can win. They’ve been dropping hints.”

Of course, the choice actually falls to producers of the show, so neither Cheryl or Louis will be able to force this issue, but isn’t nice to hear that there are some good groups lined up for 2008. Traditionally the groups category is often the weakest in the X Factor, generally there are one or two good groups per series and then a load of fillers, who everyone knows have no chance of winning.

We have had enough solo winners, here’s hoping we get a group X Factor champion this Christmas!

After weeks of Simon Cowell being blamed on artificially forming X Factor groups out of solo contestants, it will emerge on tonights X Factor bootcamp show that Irish twerp Louis Walsh was actually behind the move.

Tonight we will see Louis saying:

“I think we’ve thrown away the seven or eight girls and boys that are very very good and I think we should give them a lifeline. I think we should give them a chance of putting a group together.

Simon is dismissive saying, “it won’t work. It’s impossible.” “You’re not physic,” challenges Louis. “If we give them a small chance it might work. If I was them I would love this opportunity.” But Simon is still not convinced. “It won’t work – I’m putting it on record now, it will not work. I want to see every ‘maybe’ I’m not putting any no’s in.” Read more & comment »

On tomorrow nights show you will see Dawn Gerrard, 24 from Cheshire walk into the auditions and it looks like Louis and Sharon are already on the verge of losing it.

As Dawn tries her hardest to sing, despite her quiet voice, Sharon and Louis are left laughing their heads off at the desk, and Simon is not happy with their unprofessional behaviour and demands that the naughty pair leave the audition room. So Sharon and Louis skulk off, laughing their heads off all the way, “will you both please shut up” bellows Simon after them, and as the mischievous duo head back to their dressing room they are so distracted Sharon smacks her head on a doorframe!

More Spoilers from tomorrow night’s show. Stop reading now if you would rather be surprised!!!!

As the Manchester auditions draw to a close, spirits are low and the judges have had to deal with lots of disgruntled and angry contestants. The last contestant to audition is 67 year old retired gardener Johnny Rocco. Will Johnny be the man to give the judges something to smile about?

Johnny has been playing the pubs and clubs for years and believes now is his time to make it big. “I’ll make Louis Walsh kiss my feet,” Johnny proclaims before going in to face the judges. Singing Always on My Mind by Elvis, Louis can’t help himself from laughing. “You’re a great entertainer but you’re a pub entertainer.” Read more & comment »

X Factor judges, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh have criticised Britney Spears comeback appearance on the MTV awards this week and agreed that she would never make it to the finals of the X Factor.

Cowell told The Sun newspaper: “If I had been looking after Britney I’d have taken one look at her in rehearsals and I wouldn’t have allowed her on stage.

“It would have been worth pulling her off the bill – no matter what the cost – to save any chance she had of resurrecting her career. She wasn’t ready for that show in every possible way.” Read more & comment »

Former X Factor winner, Shayne Ward has slammed Simon Cowell’s decision to sack Louis Walhs from the show earlier this year. Shayne thinks that the show would have flopped without him, but strongly denies any rumour of a PR stunt.

“Louis’s sacking was 100 per cent genuine. They wanted something new so they thought they’d try new judges and change around the set, and Louis did get axed – I know because he was gutted,” Shayne told the Manchester Evening News. Read more & comment »

Louis Walsh has claimed the credit for the fantastic X Factor ratings this weekend, when a record 9.5 million viewers tuned in to watch him being rehired for the show.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to say, ‘I told you so’ but I think nearly 11 million people is a fair indication that Simon should never have sacked me,” Louis told The Sun. “He thinks it’s all about him, of course, but I think deep down inside he knows it’s me the viewers really love.
Read more & comment »

Louis Walsh has spoken out about why Brian Friedman left the X Factor judging panel this month.

Brian’s departure ensured Louis’ return to the show after he had been publicly sacked.

He told Heat: “(Sharon) was telling me that there was just no chemistry between Brian and the rest of them. You know how we tease each other? There was none of that apparently. Read more & comment »

Louis Walsh has spoken about how he really felt when Simon called and sacked him from the X Factor.

Speaking to Piers Morgan on You Can’t Fire Me, I’m Famous, he told of how he was devastated to be fired over the phone.

He said: “I felt like I’d been hit by a train. I was absolutely shellshocked.

“I had no idea it was coming. Simon (Cowell) had said, ‘As long as I’m doing this show, you’re doing it with me, I promise’. I was absolutely numb. Read more & comment »

Louis Walsh has given fellow X factor judge, Dannii Minogue his blessing, saying that he thinks she has the potential to take the music world by storm.

“I’ve never understood why Dannii Minogue hasn’t been a bigger star,” Louis told the Daily Star. “Maybe she needs a better manager!

“I’m really excited to be back. I think Sharon, Simon and I have brilliant chemistry.” Read more & comment »