Simon Cowell has appeared to confirm that Louis Walsh will leave The X-Factor after 11 years on the judging panel. Reports over the weekend suggested Cowell was planning to replace the Irish music manager with fresh talent for the forthcoming series of the singing contest.

Simon CowellSimon Cowell appears to have confirmed that Louis Walsh will leave the X-Factor

"Louis is one of the good guys. We will always be friends. The door remains open and who knows what's next." Cowell tweeted.

Among those speculated to replace Walsh is BBC Radio 1 host Nick Grimshaw, former X-Factor USA judge Demi Lovato, singer-songwriter James Blunt and reality TV star Kris Jenner. Olly Murs and Caroline Flack are already confirmed as the new judging line-up, replacing the outgoing Dermot O'Leary.

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A spokesperson for The X-Factor said "no formal decisions have been made regarding the full judging line-up".

Last month, Walsh said he was "done with The X Factor" and wanted to go back to his "day job" of being a manager. 

Walsh previously managed boy-bands Boyzone and Westlife and currently represents Shane Filan, Union J and Myles and Connor.

Last year's X-Factor was won by the male soloist Ben Haenow, whose winning single Something I Need went to No.1 in the UK, attaining gold status. In January 2015, it was confirmed that Haenow had been signed by Syco Music. When the voting statistics were eventually announced, Haenow was revealed to have received the most public votes from week four to ten.

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