Luna
24-11-2005, 10:25
LOUIS Walsh has been lured back to The X Factor - but only on the condition he can quit at the end of this series.
The Irish music mogul walked out on Tuesday, yet changed his mind just 24 hours later.
But insiders revealed Louis is still far from happy and Simon Cowell will release him from a clause in his contract tying him to a third series of the ITV show.
A TV source said: "Louis's decision to walk out threw everyone into a state of panic and the show's bosses were holding crisis talks to work out ways to persuade him to return.
"Both Louis and Sharon Osbourne have contractual agreements to appear in next year's series, if there is one, but Simon agreed to release him.
"Simon begged Louis not to quit because he didn't want it to have a negative impact on the show.
"It has also been pointed out to Louis that he would be in breach of contract if he just doesn't bother to turn up."
Walsh has felt "bullied" by Cowell and Osbourne in recent weeks. He has apparently requested they stop hurling insults at him.
Sharon threw three glasses of water over him during last week's show and the final straw was when Cowell branded him "stupid" in a scathing interview on ITV1's This Morning programme. But tension between the judges had been building since Walsh voted to ditch Maria Lawson in favour of Irish group The Conway Sisters.
This Morning's TV expert Sharon Marshall, who spoke to Walsh yesterday, said: "He's in bits. This is genuine.
"He's in Dublin. He feels like he's been bullied by the show's management. He feels like he's been belittled and that every week he is being made fun of.
"He said it's not acting, not pantomime what is happening on the stage."
Sinitta, one of the experts working alongside Cowell, said: "I haven't spoken to Louis.
"I don't think he's talking to anyone at the moment.
"Simon is shocked Louis got so upset. We know he was irritated and wanted to take some time out, but we're genuinely shocked he would go this far. Louis has a great sense of humour but he's sensitive.
"He hasn't been himself since the Maria/Conways situation.
"He was genuinely torn and people are coming up to him in the street and saying he's out of order. But it's a show and he's entitled to his opinion."
She added: "Simon respects Louis more than any other manager in the country. He's steered Westlife to meteoric heights.
"Louis is one of Simon's closest friends - that's why he works with him in the show - but when you're competing in that environment things kick off.
"Louis is needing to take some time out at the moment.
"Simon doesn't want Louis to be hurt. I think he does realise that Louis is very sensitive.
"I'm sure Simon will be contacting him and saying, 'I'm sorry, if I've gone too far'.
"It's just his sense of humour and Louis has had enough."
ITV said: "We're talking to Louis and hope we'll be able to persuade him to return to the show on Saturday."
The Irish music mogul walked out on Tuesday, yet changed his mind just 24 hours later.
But insiders revealed Louis is still far from happy and Simon Cowell will release him from a clause in his contract tying him to a third series of the ITV show.
A TV source said: "Louis's decision to walk out threw everyone into a state of panic and the show's bosses were holding crisis talks to work out ways to persuade him to return.
"Both Louis and Sharon Osbourne have contractual agreements to appear in next year's series, if there is one, but Simon agreed to release him.
"Simon begged Louis not to quit because he didn't want it to have a negative impact on the show.
"It has also been pointed out to Louis that he would be in breach of contract if he just doesn't bother to turn up."
Walsh has felt "bullied" by Cowell and Osbourne in recent weeks. He has apparently requested they stop hurling insults at him.
Sharon threw three glasses of water over him during last week's show and the final straw was when Cowell branded him "stupid" in a scathing interview on ITV1's This Morning programme. But tension between the judges had been building since Walsh voted to ditch Maria Lawson in favour of Irish group The Conway Sisters.
This Morning's TV expert Sharon Marshall, who spoke to Walsh yesterday, said: "He's in bits. This is genuine.
"He's in Dublin. He feels like he's been bullied by the show's management. He feels like he's been belittled and that every week he is being made fun of.
"He said it's not acting, not pantomime what is happening on the stage."
Sinitta, one of the experts working alongside Cowell, said: "I haven't spoken to Louis.
"I don't think he's talking to anyone at the moment.
"Simon is shocked Louis got so upset. We know he was irritated and wanted to take some time out, but we're genuinely shocked he would go this far. Louis has a great sense of humour but he's sensitive.
"He hasn't been himself since the Maria/Conways situation.
"He was genuinely torn and people are coming up to him in the street and saying he's out of order. But it's a show and he's entitled to his opinion."
She added: "Simon respects Louis more than any other manager in the country. He's steered Westlife to meteoric heights.
"Louis is one of Simon's closest friends - that's why he works with him in the show - but when you're competing in that environment things kick off.
"Louis is needing to take some time out at the moment.
"Simon doesn't want Louis to be hurt. I think he does realise that Louis is very sensitive.
"I'm sure Simon will be contacting him and saying, 'I'm sorry, if I've gone too far'.
"It's just his sense of humour and Louis has had enough."
ITV said: "We're talking to Louis and hope we'll be able to persuade him to return to the show on Saturday."