Louis Walsh wants Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar to take part in ‘X Factor: All Stars’.
The talent manager says the 60-year-old actor – who plays Ted Hastings in the BBC drama – would be his "number one pick" for the forthcoming celebrity version of the singing show after he impressed fans with his pitch-perfect rendition of ‘What A Wonderful World’ on Irish television last month.
Speaking to the Mirror Online, the 66-year-old former judge – who was axed from the programme’s panel last year – said: "Adrian Dunbar has a great voice. The rugby player Ben Cohen can sing as well and then Megan McKenna can sing country."
‘X Factor’ boss Simon Cowell has decided to do an all-star version of the talent show in a bid to boost viewing figures and Louis thinks it’s a great idea.
He said: "I absolutely think it is the way to go and if they get the right celebs it’ll be brilliant."
And the star-studded version won’t just benefit viewers as the 59-year-old music mogul is expected to hand the champion a lucrative deal with his record label Syco as well as giving the triumphant contestant a chance to bag the Christmas number one single.
An insider said recently: "Simon knows that getting the right stars to enter is the key to its success. So to make that more appealing he’s decided to put a proper record deal with Syco on the table for the winner – with serious money behind it. It’s a proper competition and they want people who can really sing but who are big personalities too."
The judge is said to have set aside £3 million to attract famous faces for the show, and is reportedly keen to sign up his ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ co-star Amanda Holden.
Gemma Collins – who shot to fame on ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ – is currently in high demand and also thought to be wanted for the show.
Louis Walsh wants Adrian Dunbar to do X Factor
