Louis Walsh has insisted he won’t be fired from the X Factor – because Cheryl Cole loves him.
The Mayo judge was reported to be set to be sacked by Simon Cowell because of bad blood with Cheryl, who just signed a €2million deal to return.
But Louis yesterday vowed he will be making a triumphant return to the ITV programme because he gets “on well” with the Girls Aloud babe.
Speaking for the first time since Cheryl’s return, he said: “I knew Cheryl was coming back, I knew months ago that Simon wanted her back.
“I knew immediately when Simon returned that he would want Cheryl for the show again. I get on well with her.
“We don’t always see eye-to-eye on the show, but that’s why I think we’re good judges, we always have an opinion.
“She is a good judge and she knows what’s happening in the charts today and the thing is there’s great chemistry between her and Simon.
The X Factor return: Cheryl and Simon reunited
“Simon picked Cheryl because he likes her, he has fun with her. He only works with people he likes and had chemistry with, because you spend so much time together.
“So you have to get on well. He winds her up. They fight like a brother and sister.”
But Louis – who has yet to sign his contract to return – has admitted that best friend Simon, 54, did have to beg Cheryl to come back.
He told the Sunday World: “He did have to build bridges with her after she was fired from the US X Factor, but this is not the American one, it’s the UK one.
“She does need this because she’s signed to Polydor and wants to bring a new album out.”
Last year: On the panel with Sharon, Nicole and Gary
And Louis admitted that he is still in the dark about who will make up the rest of the panel – but wants another return for Sharon Osbourne.
He said: “Nobody knows who the other judges are at the moment. Who do I think it would be? I would love it to be Mrs O.
“I’ve heard lots of people – Mel B, Ellie Goulding, Joss Stone – but nobody has actually got the job yet.”
And Louis vowed that the X Factor will pick itself up from last year, where they had rock-bottom ratings.
He added: “It’s going to be a bigger, better X Factor this year. Simon just came back, he decided he was doing the show.
“He has picked Cheryl as his number one, but the four judges have to have chemistry or it doesn’t work.
“Simon wants to run it his way and he likes it to revolve around him. The show doesn’t need saving, it has huge ratings.”
