‘X Factor’ Decides Louis Walsh Isn’t Too Old To Judge, Rehires Him To Save Ratings
X Factor has gone back on itself by once again hiring Louis Walsh. Plans haven’t been fully confirmed, but X Factor doesn’t want to lose any more viewers, so Walsh may stay, even while Nick Grimshaw remains. But Walsh is likely to sit off to the side as a neutral fifth judge. He’ll be the oldest on stage at 63, but he’ll be sitting apart from the others.
Louis Walsh was last seen in an X Factor commercial cleaning the floors. Fans weren’t sure if this was a funny, though insulting, way of saying he was moving on, or if he’d still play a part on X Factor in some small way. Current news suggests that it was all a tease, and Louis may even get additional powers in a new judging format. X Factor fans who were worried about the loss of Louis can now head back to their TV sets.
The news, reported by the Mirror, is believed to be attributed to the dwindling audience tuning in to watch X Factor. There is worry whether new judge Nick Grimshaw can slow the receding tide. X Factor is playing it safe in keeping Walsh, once believed to be lost to the X Factor community forever. But seeing as many as 2 million less viewers have persuaded producers he may hold the key to keeping the loyalty of the X Factor audience.
Walsh has commented on the declining ratings since he and former judge Dermot O’Leary left. He wasn’t officially fired, just never given notice of rehiring. Looking at the current lineup of younger judges, aside from Cowell, he attributes the delayed employment notice to his age. But X Factor producers have finally realized that people come to the show for the diversity of performances, and perhaps even the diversity of judge’s ages and experience.
In the midst of X Factor‘s fight to stay relevant, X Factor‘s 2011 winners, girl group Little Mix, have expressed a declining interest in the show. Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson told Digital Spy why she thinks the show needs a rest.
“It’s getting a bit predictable. You kind of know what’s going to happen. Simon’s going to go [raises hand], ‘Give me another song’, and all that. I feel like I literally know what’s going to happen next. It’s like watching a film you’ve seen 10 times.”
Besides Louis Walsh coming back, former judge Dannii Minogue will play a part, and One Direction star Louis Tomlinson will help Simon Cowell select acts. Hopefully, X Factor can make it through the rest of the season.
[Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images]
