Louis Walsh has admitted he decided to quit the X Factor after a decade because of exhaustion.
But the Mayo man, 60, vowed to return for an 11th year if Simon Cowell asks him.
He said: “I was exhausted. The previous year had not been fun for me so I thought it was time to go.
“If I wasn’t enjoying it, I was sure it would come across on television and I would be pushed out. So I decided to leave on my own terms.”
And Louis admitted he would “definitely” make a U-turn if Simon wants him on the panel again – after loving the last season.
He added: “Sharon Osbourne was brought on board and the bar was raised.
“Don’t get me wrong, it was still incredibly hard work, with 14-hour days and gruelling schedules.
“But I laughed so much with Sharon it made it all worthwhile again.
Fun times: With the rest of the X Factor panel last year
“We had so much fun, all of us, including Gary and Nicole, and we became really good friends.
“I think it is the most fun I have ever had on the panel and has rejuvenated my passion for the show.”
However Louis – who is on holidays in Miami – told the Mail on Sunday that he has used his time off to lose almost a stone in weight to look good on TV.
He added: “It is HD television now and I can’t be out of shape or it will show – Simon always warns me about that.”
