Luna
22-06-2007, 14:04
Music mogul Louis Walsh has been invited back as a judge on the new series of The X Factor, months after he stepped down from the role.
"It's not a rumour, it's true," Walsh told BBC Radio One. "I'm starting on Monday in Manchester."
Several auditions for the ITV talent show have already been filmed with Walsh's replacements Dannii Minogue and choreographer Brian Friedman.
Walsh says he will be taking Friedman's place for the rest of the show's run.
I just got my old gig back
Louis Walsh
"I'm the fourth judge," he told the BBC News website. "It's going to be Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Dannii and me."
"I think they've given Brian some kind of title behind the camera."
ITV confirmed that Friedman would become the show's creative director, coaching contestants in choreography and styling.
'Knifed in the back'
Walsh, who manages chart-topping boy band Westlife and X Factor winner Shayne Ward, was dropped from the programme in March this year, along with host Kate Thornton.
His links with the show were not entirely severed - as he was expected to manage this year's winner.
Auditions for the fourth series of X Factor are already underway
But the Irishman, 55, raged against the decision, telling Graham Norton he was "knifed in the back".
He also said Simon Cowell, whose SyCo production company owns the rights to X Factor, was a "coward" for not breaking the news in person.
"I got sacked and I threw all the toys out of the pram," Walsh told the BBC News website.
"But when they started having auditions, Simon and Sharon were texting me to tell me they missed me.
"Then I was asked to be part of Simon's appearance on This Is Your Life, and he said, 'I wish you were back on the show again'."
Walsh says he finally received a call from the show's executive producer, Richard Holloway, on Wednesday asking him to come back.
"I just got my old gig back," he said.
"We are thrilled to have Louis back to the X Factor," said Paul Jackson, ITV's Director of Entertainment and Comedy.
"Viewers will see the story unfold on screen when the series returns later in the year."
"It's not a rumour, it's true," Walsh told BBC Radio One. "I'm starting on Monday in Manchester."
Several auditions for the ITV talent show have already been filmed with Walsh's replacements Dannii Minogue and choreographer Brian Friedman.
Walsh says he will be taking Friedman's place for the rest of the show's run.
I just got my old gig back
Louis Walsh
"I'm the fourth judge," he told the BBC News website. "It's going to be Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Dannii and me."
"I think they've given Brian some kind of title behind the camera."
ITV confirmed that Friedman would become the show's creative director, coaching contestants in choreography and styling.
'Knifed in the back'
Walsh, who manages chart-topping boy band Westlife and X Factor winner Shayne Ward, was dropped from the programme in March this year, along with host Kate Thornton.
His links with the show were not entirely severed - as he was expected to manage this year's winner.
Auditions for the fourth series of X Factor are already underway
But the Irishman, 55, raged against the decision, telling Graham Norton he was "knifed in the back".
He also said Simon Cowell, whose SyCo production company owns the rights to X Factor, was a "coward" for not breaking the news in person.
"I got sacked and I threw all the toys out of the pram," Walsh told the BBC News website.
"But when they started having auditions, Simon and Sharon were texting me to tell me they missed me.
"Then I was asked to be part of Simon's appearance on This Is Your Life, and he said, 'I wish you were back on the show again'."
Walsh says he finally received a call from the show's executive producer, Richard Holloway, on Wednesday asking him to come back.
"I just got my old gig back," he said.
"We are thrilled to have Louis back to the X Factor," said Paul Jackson, ITV's Director of Entertainment and Comedy.
"Viewers will see the story unfold on screen when the series returns later in the year."