LOUIS Walsh will make a sensational return to The X Factor — as the show faces a major crisis.
The axed Irishman, now 63, will be back on the live shows as a “fifth judge” alongside close pal Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw.
It comes as Radio 1 DJ Nick, 31, who was controversially hired as Louis’s replacement, has disappointed bosses of the ITV show and been pinpointed as a major reason behind the show’s ratings slump.
With monster BBC hit Strictly returning this weekend, close associates of Simon have launched a “whispering campaign” against Grimmy, blasting his performance as “dull and uninspired”.
Last night a senior X Factor insider revealed: “This is a complete bolt from the blue that no one expected. Louis is an X Factor legend and Simon wants him back for the live shows. They’re great friends.
“He will be a neutral fifth judge who will sit in a special place away from the others to provide unbiased comments on the contestants.”
Another show source said: “The reality is that Simon has missed Louis right from the start. It hasn’t felt the same for him without Louis — and viewers feel the same.
“Louis could annoy a lot of people, but he was brilliant at creating the drama required to make a show like X Factor worked.
“It’s all been too nice during the auditions this year. Grimmy is popular backstage but viewers think he’s boring. It’s a massive coup for Louis who is also going to sign a deal with Simon to help launch Ireland’s Got Talent as a judge.”
Nothing will bring the ratings back up at this point. I agree with some of the former contestants, they need to take this show off the air until 2017 and then come back with a really strong panel of judges. The comeback would be huge.
It's not any of the judges fault because of the ratings though, they're the last thing the GP care about, it's because it's a tired and dull show that hasn't evolved over the last 10 years.
It's the 12th season it is not going to slay like the prime ratings. They need Queen Tulisa though rather than Louis. I am ready for Cheryl to bitch out Lousi though.
They always try and hire new edgy judges then blame them when the ratings don't increase. The ratings suck because we're all bored of it, same old sob stories, same old contestants, same old critiques.
! It's a tired format. It's not the judges fault. 
The judges aren't the reason for the ratings slump