Louis Walsh has admitted that John and Edward Grimes have already been signed to a management agency, despite the fact that the show is four weeks from the final.

Louis said yesterday that he’d be happy if the boys got two more weeks on the show, however he doesn’t seem to think that an early finish will affect their long term career prospects.

A source at The Daily Star wuoted Louis as saying: “I’m sick of people booing them. They are genuine boys.

“I took a chance on them and they’ve become household names, which is what I wanted. They can easily become the new Ant and Dec.

“The boys have been inundated with offers for TV and even modelling jobs because of their hairstyles.

“I can also tell you they’ve already been signed by Modest Management who look after Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and JLS.”

An X Factor spokesman insisted: “All the dozen final acts sign with Modest Management – but not until they leave the show.”