Louis Walsh has confirmed that he will quit ITV's singing telent contest, The X Factor, after this next series. The upcoming programmes, currently in auditions, will mark the 10th and final session for the 61 year-old entertainment manager.

Speaking to TV Times magazine, as reported by BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, the Irishman said that he was "happy" to be finally stepping away from the show, having been its longest serving judge. "I'm happy this is going to be my last year. I've been judging X Factor for 10 years so I've done it all."

Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh Has Announced Plans To Exit The X Factor.

A spokesperson from the ITV show spoke of Walsh's upcoming departure: "We're delighted Louis is back for a record breaking 10th series this year. It's far too early to say what the judging panel for 2014 may or may not look like." The ten year deal that was originally signed for The X Factor will soon come to an end but creator Simon Cowell, who has since taken the show to the US, is thought to be negotiating further series after a decade of success.

Walsh currently sits on the judging panel alongside Sharon Osbourne, Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger, although Sharon also reportedly only wants to stay for one series, meaning she'll make her exit at the same time as Louis.

Louis Walsh
Louis & Sharon Often Sided Together In Their Decisions And Opinions.

The former Boyzone and Westlife manager has mentored the 'Groups' category five times and the 'Overs' category three times. He has mentored JLS and Jedward - acts who have both gone on to seek success post-X Factor - as well as finding victory in the show's second series with Shayne Ward. Walsh was replaced by dance choreographer Brian Friedman on the judging panel in 2007 but changed back after just a few days.

He spoke of his future plans for after he makes his X Factor exit: "I'm going to be managing Shane Filan from Westlife and I'm putting together a new boy band."