Simon Cowell has reportedly assured Louis Walsh that his position on The X Factor judging panel is safe.
The Sun quoted an insider this morning, who claimed the Irish judge could be dropped from the show next year.
However it is now believed that Cowell, who left the UK show to focus on the American version of the competition, contacted Walsh to reassure him that he would not be kicking him off in the near future.
An insider said: "Louis was bemused to see The Sun story, but after eight years on the show he's not concerned at all, most years the papers say he is for the chop but he's still the last judge standing,"
The claims came after 59-year-old Walsh had to make a humiliating on-air apology last night after calling contender, Misha Bryan, a bully. Last night’s chaos – or pantomime – was prompted by Walsh’s Saturday night fever in which he said that the 19-year-old Bryan had bullied a fellow contender backstage. According to today’s Sun newspaper the person who had been bullied was Sami Brookes who was voted off the show last night.
Brookes had complained to Walsh following weeks of aggravation from Misha which boiled over last Thursday. "One of my contestants has complained to me that Misha has been bullying her," Walsh declared in Saturday night’s show which kicked off a live TV row among the four judges. Afterwards it was reported that Kelly Rowland spent an hour giving Louis Walsh a piece of her mind. Then last night came the volte face with Walsh’s grovelling comment: "I shouldn't have called Misha a bully and I apologise for that."
In other news - which may or may not be related to the on-screen drama - it is reported that the show’s producers might bring Simon Cowell back into the fold after a dramatic slump in this season’s ratings that has seen a drop in 2.5 million viewers.
Cowell (52) is keeping tight-lipped on the speculation. "I'm flattered that people are missing me — but I don't want anyone to miss the show."
