Louis Walsh has lashed out at last year’s ‘The X Factor’ judges Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw for their lack of experience.
The 63-year-old music manager – who was dropped from the panel last year and replaced with the radio presenter – is glad show boss Simon Cowell decided to hire him, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger for this year’s show because he felt the last series lacked enough music knowledge and expertise.
He explained: "Sharon and I are old, but that means we’re far more experienced, unlike the young whippersnappers on last year’s panel who didn’t know a thing about talent."
Louis and Sharon were the first to receive their contracts for the forthcoming series and worked hard to persuade Simon to take on Nicole because they were worried Rita would make the programme more about "fashion" than vocal talent.
He explained: "Sharon and I pushed for Nicole, we didn’t want Rita Ora. It turned into a fashion show. The panel didn’t have the right credentials. They were lightweight."
Meanwhile, Louis – who spent 11 years on the panel before he was replaced last year – is adamant he’s back with fire in his belly this time around and is convinced viewers already love him.
Speaking to Best magazine, he said: "I’m back with a vengeance. When we announced the new line-up, it was 95 per cent positive. No one was saying it was a mistake."
Rita, Nick and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini – who first joined the show in 2008 before leaving in 2010 and returning in 2014 for another two years – announced they were turning their backs on the singing show earlier this year.
Louis Walsh lashes out at last year’s X Factor judges
