Is Louis Walsh Returning to The X Factor?!

Rumours are rife that Louis Walsh will return to The X Factor this year. The Sun newspaper claims that he has made a deal to come back for the upcoming live shows. Louis could return for the live shows. A source apparently told the publication that Louis will be “a neutral fifth judge who will sit in a special place away from the others to provide unbiased comments on the contestants.” But before you get too excited, a spokesperson for the programme has played down the reports and insisted that this year’s series is still very popular. This year's panel (image: ITV). “The X Factor is one of the most watched shows on ITV. It continues to draw in millions of viewers each weekend with millions more watching on catch-up,” they explained. “The live shows do not start until the end of next month and any talk of plans at this stage is speculation.”